New Delhi, July 19: India’s top medical body – the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has issued a ‘red alert’ for medicos and medical administrators involved in COVId-19 containment efforts and asked them to raise their guard while announcing that of the total 1,302 doctors infected with COVID-19, 99 doctors have succumbed to the disease in India so far.
Of those dead, 73 were above the age of 50 years, 19 in the age-group of 35-50 and seven below 35 years. Among the 99 who have lost their lives, 57 of them were general practitioners. This is the first time since the pandemic, IMA has released data on doctors who have lost their lives while battling the highly contagious virus.
Issuing a statement, the top medical body said, “IMA declares RED ALERT to doctors and medical administrators, if COVID-19 mortality needs to decrease in the country then it has to start with doctors and India’s healthcare system.”
Analysis of data shows that while senior and young doctors are equally infected with COVID-19, mortality is higher among elders. While this is on expected lines, there is scope for reducing deaths across the age spectrum. Meticulous adherence to norms and discipline inside hospitals will have a salutary effect.
Along with the data, the IMA has strongly recommended practices that India’s healthcare system should follow in a bid to decrease the mortality rate.
