New Delhi, Feb 8 (Agency) As many as 1,616 healthcare workers (HCWs) have lost their lives fighting the Covid-19 pandemic in the country, the Union Health Ministry informed in Parliament on Tuesday. The government’s death toll among the HCWs include 87 doctors, 40 nurses, 136 paramedics, 6 ambulance drivers and 148 “others”, the ministry mentioned submitting a written reply to the query put up by Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’ Brien. According to the figure stated by the Health Ministry in Rajya Sabha, families of 1,616 healthcare workers have been paid the compensation amount of 50 lakhs each from Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP). The Centre mentioned that Rs 818 crores of ex-gratia sum has been released under the scheme to the affected families. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) said that the figure shared by the Union government is ‘laughable’.
“Our very own data stated that around 1,800 doctors have sacrificed their lives in the last two years but the Union government recognises only 87,” said Dr JA Jayalal, former IMA president. “And our figure is only about the doctors. If we add nurses and other divisions of healthcare workers into it, the figure will be multifold higher than what has been documented by the Centre,” he highlighted. Jayalal said that the IMA has submitted their data to the Union Health Ministry on several occasions with attested proofs of residence and license to practice medicine, but to no avail. Meanwhile, the Union Ministry clarified in the written response that disaggregated data of HCWs as per their profession “is required to be maintained by the states.” “Health is a State subject. Government of India has maintained data of total cases and deaths as reported by States/UTs on a regular basis. Disaggregated data by profession is required to be maintained by the States. Accordingly, Union Government has requested States/UTs to furnish the requisite details,” the response read.