AIIMS RDA urges PM to protect healthcare workers

“Over the last few days, our frontline healthcare workers — doctors, nurses and other support staff — have come forward with issues related to availability of personal protective equipment (PPEs), Covid-19 testing equipment and quarantine facilities on social media,” the association said.

Speaking to IANS, RDA president Adarsh Pratap Singh said, “There have been incidents when doctors were targeted for raising genuine concerns related to Covid-19. They are even transferred or sacked in some cases.”

Dr Singh said many doctors had reported to the association threats issued by their institutions for raising geniune concerns saying “their social media accounts are under scrutiny and they will face the consequences.”

Condemning those incidents, the association said it would be thankful if the government helped create healthy space for debate and discussion to aid healthcare workers rather than ridicule them. “We demand all punishments withdrawn and their honour restored,” the association said.

Singh said the government should use the feedback given by the healthcare workers “instead of rejecting them.”

(Sfoorti Mishra can be contacted at sfoorti.m@IANS.in)

–IANS<br>sfm/pcj