Allaying all concerns of the medical fraternity regarding their security in the fight against Corona virus, the Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday assured them that the government would leave no stone unturned in ensuring their wellbeing and security.
Shah today held a high level meeting with Indian Medical Association doctors through video conferencing and assured them of their security in the fight against COVID-19. Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan was also present on the occasion. Shah appreciated the role of doctors in general and particularly in the fight against Corona virus and expressed confidence that doctors would continue to work dedicatedly in this fight, as they have been doing till now. He saluted the sacrifices made by doctors to keep the people safe from diseases like COVID-19.
There have been reports of doctors being abused, beaten and denied entry into residences. Families of at least two doctors, who succumbed to the novel coronavirus in Shillong and Chennai, had faced opposition while performing their last rites as the locals claimed that burying them in their localities may lead to the spread of the infection.
Shah condemned such attacks and said that the Prime Minister is closely following all issues and concerns of doctors. He said, all necessary arrangements would be put in place to prevent such incidents in future. He appealed to doctors not to do even a symbolic protest as proposed by them, as it is not in national or global interest.
Considering the immediate high-level response from the government and assurance given by the Home and Health Ministers, the IMA has withdrawn the proposed protest to maintain the fight against COVID-19 in an uninterrupted manner.
Even as Home Minister Amit Shah interacted with doctors today, Health Secretary Preeti Sudan has written to states asking them to take adequate measures for ensuring the safety of health care professionals. Government has taken several measures from time to time to safeguard doctors and health professionals who are at the forefront in the fight against COVID-19. Health Ministry has asked states to widely disseminate these guidelines among all doctors and health professionals in the States and Union Territories.
-India Legal Bureau