Passage for doctors

It’s a no-brainer that intra-state and inter-state movement of doctors and other healthcare workers should continue uninterrupted during a national emergency. Medical and paramedical staff can’t be expected to deliver Covid and non-Covid services efficiently if they keep facing lockdown restrictions. Time is of the essence when an ambulance is on the move; any delay – even of a few minutes or even seconds – can make the all-important difference between life and death. But such is the lack of coordination between the states that the Centre has to intervene and state the obvious. The Union Home Secretary has written to the Chief Secretaries of all states and union territories, asserting that inter-state movement of doctors and paramedics should be facilitated, wherever required. It’s unfortunate that healthcare services have been affected at some places, including the national capital, after neighbouring states shut their borders. Jurisdictional issues and other stumbling blocks can impede the country’s fight against the pandemic. Entangling the ‘corona warriors’ in red tape is nothing but a recipe for disaster.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has also red-flagged reports that many private clinics and nursing homes are not being allowed to open at several places. The states and UTs have been told to ensure that such establishments operate without any obstacle. It’s a knotty issue as a section of private doctors is reluctant to resume work, despite warnings from the authorities that their licences would be cancelled if they don’t do the needful. Last week, a private nursing home in Indore was temporarily closed after two doctors treating non-coronavirus patients were found Covid-positive. Governments have been cracking down on private hospitals that are operating without following the safety protocol, prompting doctors to play truant and avoid scrutiny.

The onus is on the authorities to tap the potential of private facilities to supplement the public healthcare setup. The trust deficit has to be overcome with collaborative efforts and confidence-building measures rather than adopting a punitive approach. The concerns of the frontline health workers should be addressed on priority because India can’t hope to contain Covid-19 without their active involvement.