The Delhi government has permitted all COVID facilities in the city to involve the MBBS students of fourth and fifth years, along with the interns and others to assist the doctors on COVID duty at a fixed allowance. The permission was given to manage the persistent surge of coronavirus cases and growing load of patient care on the hospitals and healthcare staff.

An order that was dated November 18, which was issued by the health department stated that it involved fourth and fifth year MBBS students and interns along with BDS doctors to support the duty doctors at an allowance of Rs 1,000 for 8 hours shift and Rs 2,000 for 12 hours shift per day.

The COVID facilities are again facing a similar problem which was a concern in the early months of pandemic regarding shortage of healthcare staff due to the sudden upsurge in admission of patients in the city-based hospitals

The order has raised concern over the efficacy in managing critical cases of coronavirus as the staff work for 12 hours wearing PPE kit.

A senior doctor from a government-run hospital said that there was no special initiative done to hire trained healthcare professionals. Doctors who are in training are exploited and are also deployed. They are requesting to recruit trained professionals to battle the coronavirus pandemic. The state government is determined on forcing medical students with limited skills to battle on the war front.

This move has not gone well with the resident doctors. Another resident doctor said that it is not acceptable and won’t be tolerated as there is no shortage of doctors in Delhi. The young medical students are not properly trained yet to be at the battle front. Instead, they should be protected as they are yet to gain the required skills. Instead of forcing medical students to assist in COVID-19 duties, adequate staff should be trained.

Source: The New Indian Express