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Indian doctors hold 'black ribbon protest' against new quarantine guidelines

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IANS    23 May 2020

On 15th May, the government issued the revised guidelines for the healthcare employees in which it has removed the mandatory quarantine clause for the healthcare workers post duty in COVID-19 ward. On Friday, doctors who are deployed in COVID-19 duty in all the Central and state government hospitals worn black arm bands at work as a mark of protest.

The Federation of Resident Doctors Association, (FORDA) had organized the black ribbon protest to show the medical professionals disappointment on the revised guidelines for healthcare workers who are posted in coronavirus areas, which was issued by the Union and state health departments.

Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Deep Chand Bandhu Government Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC), Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital and Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital are few hospitals in Delhi where the doctors are at present holding the protest of sporting black arm bands.

The organizers said that if the government does not take any proper steps to solve their issues, they will increase the agitation.

FORDA President Shivaji Dev Barman said while speaking to IANS, that todays black ribbon protest at work is for the reasonable demand for sufficient quarantine period and testing all doctors and other healthcare staffs on COVID-19 duty. As the incubation period of the coronavirus is 2-14 days, there are many asymptomatic patients been tested positive. Hence, quarantine period post duty is a very necessary to stop the spread of the coronavirus among the family members, colleagues and also in the community. They have urged the Union Health Minister to reconsider the guidelines and make the essential amendments.

The revised guidelines for the healthcare employees has removed the required quarantine clause post COVID-19 duty, except for those who comes in high risk exposure criteria. This has cancelled the facility for other doctors and healthcare workers on COVID-19 duty.

Delhi governments Health Secretary, Padmini Singla, has also issued similar guidelines for the hospitals that are run by the Delhi government.

The doctors appealed that can put the healthcare staffs in a big dilemma with significant consequences. Parv Mittal, RDA President at Maulana Azad Medical College and Associated Hospitals, also told IANS that the healthcare community is fighting a war on two fronts currently. One is against COVID-19 and the other is the fight for required quarantine facilities. This revised guidelines has increased the mental stress of the COVID-19 warriors.

Saksham Mittal, Joint Secretary of FORDA, and Treasurer of the RDA at RML Hospital, told IANS, also said that asking the healthcare staff to resume duty immediately or go home the next day post COVID-19 duty increases the risk of transmitting the disease to colleagues as well the family members.

There is a need to safeguard doctors, who are one of the most important pillars of the frontline health staff to fight this coronavirus pandemic and 14-day quarantine is a must.

Prateek Goel, General Secretary of the RDA at LNJP Hospital, told IANS that the black ribbon protest is to draw the attention of the Union government and the Delhi government and they can withdraw the no quarantine order. He also said that they dont want Taali and Thaali but to serve the community they need proper 14 days of quarantine.

Source: News 18 Buzz

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