Doctor lost to Covid, no relief in sight for kin six months later

Karam Prakash
Tribune News Service
Patiala, May 21

With his doctor son succumbing to Covid-19 in the line of duty and no financial help from the government, Suresh Pal is torn between grief and rage.

“We are facing a tough time. No one has come forward to help. The government hasn’t even recognised the sacrifices my son made to become a surgeon. To say the least, the government should give what they announced for the frontline workers dying on duty,” Pal, who works as a technician with the Indian Railways, said.

Dr Ankit Kumar, who had been performing round-the-clock duty at Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot, before testing positive, died in November last year. His family is said to have been running from pillar to post since then to get the financial help announced by the government for the kin of the frontline workers.

His mother Lokesh Devi said: “The entire family had pinned hopes on Ankit that he would pull us out of poverty. Everything is shattered now. We have two daughters to marry. Besides, we have loans to repay.”

Meanwhile, Residents Doctors Association (RDA), Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, said the government should immediately hand over a cheque for Rs 50 lakh to the family.

Faridkot Civil Surgeon Dr Sanjay Kapoor said: “We have already sent Dr Ankit’s file, seeking release of financial help to the family, to the higher authorities.”

Dr Raj Bhanadur, Vice-Chancellor, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, said: “I will check the status and ask the authorities concerned to expedite the process.”

It is learned that a doctor of Government Medical College, Patiala, Dr Harshinder Kaur, has already written to the Chief Minister, seeking financial help of Rs 1 crore to families of doctors dying in the line of duty and declaring them martyrs.