NEW DELHI: The government has refused to share data on the number of families of doctors who succumbed to COVID-19 during the first and second waves and have been compensated so far, as per an RTI reply.
In November last year, the government revealed that 475, or 29 per cent, of doctors' families had been compensated. However, this time, the Union Health Ministry, in its RTI reply, stated that the “data is not available in material form.”
Despite the government’s claim of lacking data on the total number of doctors who died during the pandemic, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has reported the number of doctor casualties to be over 1,596.
The IMA, which has 4 lakh members, submitted a detailed list with photographs of doctors who succumbed to COVID-19 during the two waves to the Health Ministry.
The government’s response came after RTI activist Dr. K. V. Babu sought information on the total number of beneficiaries who received compensation under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) insurance scheme since its launch on March 30, 2020.
Under the scheme, the government announced insurance coverage of ₹50 lakh for healthcare providers, including community and private health workers, at risk of COVID-19 infection.
In his RTI, dated December 7, Dr. Babu, who has been pursuing the issue for the past three years, asked for the total number of beneficiaries under the scheme and the amount disbursed from March 30, 2020, to November 20, 2024.
In its reply, the ministry said, “A policy was issued to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for settling a limited number of claims that may arise during the policy period. In the said case, we had issued a policy for handling 2,294 claims, and we have settled 2,294 claims as per agreed terms and conditions.”
Dr. Babu also asked how many families of doctors – who were earlier called COVID warriors and celebrated during the pandemic – were compensated and the total disbursed amount. The RTI reply, dated December 17 said, “Data not available in material form. Hence, it is not provided under Section 7(9) of the RTI Act.”
When he requested state-wise data from Delhi and Kerala on the number of compensated doctors' families, the response was the same, “Data not available in material form. Hence, it is not provided under Section 7(9) of the RTI Act.”
Dr. Babu, based in Kannur, pointed out that the data from the Union Health Ministry clearly shows that a vast majority of the COVID-martyred Indian doctors are not beneficiaries of the insurance scheme.
“It is a big let-down by the government of India. It is also very distressing for doctors and their families that the Supreme Court has not listed the Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the last two years,” he said.
“It is such a sad and disappointing state of affairs that the martyrdom of Indian doctors who bravely fought COVID-19 is not respected by the authorities anymore," he added.
According to the data provided via RTI in November 2023, 2,244 beneficiaries, including 475 doctors, were compensated.
By December 17, the number of beneficiaries had increased to 2,294 – 50 more compared to the previous year. “It is clear from the earlier data that not even 500 COVID-martyred doctors are beneficiaries under PMGKP,” he said.
Dr. Babu added that out of a total spending of ₹1,147 crores, less than ₹250 crores have been paid to doctors’ families.
According to the IMA, which has been raising the matter with the Union Health Ministry, a total of 1,596 doctors – 757 in the first wave and 839 in the second wave – lost their lives.
Dr. Babu said that many doctors who died during the pandemic were compelled to open their clinics due to state governments enforcing the Epidemic Act, which mandated that clinics and other medical establishments remain open.
In 2022, the ministry informed Parliament that there is no “disaggregated data on deaths due to COVID-19 by profession or otherwise” that is “maintained centrally.”
Of the 757 doctors who died during the first wave, Tamil Nadu reported 90 deaths, followed by West Bengal (80), Maharashtra (74), Andhra Pradesh (70), Karnataka (68), Uttar Pradesh (66), Gujarat (62), and Bihar (40).
In the second wave, the highest number of deaths was reported in Delhi. Of the 839 doctors who died, 128 were from Delhi. Bihar reported 115 deaths, followed by Uttar Pradesh (79), West Bengal (65), Tamil Nadu (64), Andhra Pradesh (48), Odisha (46), Telangana (43), and Gujarat and Jharkhand with 30 deaths each.
An SLP was filed in the Supreme Court, raising the issue of the non-disbursal of assured government medical cover to healthcare professionals who served the nation during the COVID-19 pandemic and died.