How many doctors in India have succumbed to Covid-19 since its outbreak in 2020? Well, the Central government says it doesn’t know. But the Union Health Ministry and the Indian Medical Association (IMA) are clearly at cross-purposes over the issue.
The ministry said in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday that it did not have the data on the number of doctors who have died across the country due to Covid-19, the IMA, which has more than 3 lakh doctors as members, said more than 1,600 doctors, have succumbed to the infection. IMA national president Dr Sahajanand Prasad Singh told Kavita Bajeli-Datt they have prepared an entire list of doctors --- described as Covid warriors and feted by the Centre --- who have died.
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Under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package, govt had provided insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh to health care providers, including community health workers and private health workers, at risk of Covid infection.