Doctors Day 2020: Our Tribute to Medical Corona Warriors
We cannot begin to fathom the tremendous strain doctors are under. The pandemic has sent the medical fraternity scrambling to flatten the curve. Healthcare systems are in overdrive. Doctors are working harder than anyone else in the world in order to contain the casualties. Doctors Day 2020 comes at a time when the spike in COVID-19 infections across India has put impossible demands on doctors. Can we take a moment today to step back and appreciate their hard work?
Doctors Day 2020
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee is certainly doing so. She has declared July 1 (observed annually as National Doctors Day) a state holiday as a sign of respect for all medical Corona warriors fighting the virus, day in and day out. Banerjee has called on other Indian states to do the same. She also requested the Modi government to consider designating July 1 a national holiday to honour doctors across India.
Banerjee talked passionately about the sacrifice of doctors and medical professionals who put their lives on the line to treat patients, during a press conference earlier. The government of West Bengal is starting TeleMedicine services from Doctors Day 2020 today. Telemedicine will allow for basic medical assistance for common people while maintaining social distancing.
What is National Doctors Day?
Interestingly, the history of National Doctors Day is tied to another West Bengal CM. Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy was the second Chief Minister of West Bengal; he was born (and also died) on July 1st. He was a legendary medical practitioner and a brilliant scholar, among a handful in the world to simultaneously obtain the FRCS and MRCP degrees.
Doctors Day in India commemorates one of the medical community’s greatest representatives, Dr Roy. It was established by the Government in 1991 as an annual day to mark the value of doctors in our lives. Elsewhere in the world, it’s celebrated on different calendar dates—March 30 in America, December 3 in Cuba to name a few instances.
AirAsia giving 50,000 doctors a RedPass
As a gesture of appreciation for the community, AirAsia India is offering 50,000 plane seats without the base fare to doctors. Called the RedPass initiative, the offer is valid on flights across its domestic sectors to the doctors (who put in a prior application) for their service to the nation. However, this offer does not include airport fees, charges and statutory taxes. Successful applicant doctors got a one-way flight ticket on the AirAsia India domestic network.
Medical corona warriors
We are observing Doctors Day 2020 with inspiring stories of corona warriors from the medical fraternity who are going out on a limb to help COVID-19 patients.
One doctor in Uttar Pradesh is winning hearts for soldiering on despite being COVID-19 positive himself. Professor Mohammad Shameem works at the Department of TB and Chest Diseases in Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College of Aligarh Muslim University. He is treating patients remotely via telemedicine while himself recovering from coronavirus disease in his house.
He connects online with healthcare staff at the hospital especially for advice on patients admitted in the isolation ward and those in the respiratory wards having other health issues. His logic is simple: Doctors are supposed to save lives. Dr Shameem feels there’s an opportunity for COVID-19-positive doctors in the plethora of telemedicine gadgets available today. They can still contribute their expertise without having to leave quarantine.
Mainstreaming telemedicine with Cisco and PWC
The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai is certainly taking notes. BMC G (South) ward set up a telemedicine unit at Podar Hospital in Worli on June 24 to address the spike in cases. The BMC IT team got together with PWC consultants and CISCO healthcare for the advanced video and collaboration tech this feat called for. Doctors are currently providing consultations on an hourly basis. Diabetologists, ENT, general physicians and other specialists are expected to join the telemedicine unit for COVID-19.
State tourism minister Aaditya Thackeray, who is the MLA of Worli announced the launch on Twitter. “If this works well, this model can be replicated,” he added in his tweet.
This afternoon we launched Telemedicine covid care at Poddar Hospital, Worli. This facility and hardware committed by @Cisco will enable doctors to remote monitor patients in isolation wards, with least chances of infection. If this works well, this model can be replicated. pic.twitter.com/83EfFMNOVJ
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) June 24, 2020
Medical Corona martyrs
Not all the Corona warriors survived, however. Dr Aseem Gupta was a celebrated anaesthesiologist who was lauded by many for going beyond the call of duty in this pandemic. He contracted coronavirus on duty at the government-run Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital, and passed away a few days later.
Dr Gupta was a specialist (Grade I) in the Department of Anaesthesia at the LNJP Hospital. The doctor and his wife had been working in the medical profession for 3 decades, always prioritising the poor and the marginalised. Dr Gupta had treated several patients in the last 3 months, and eventually sacrificed himself in the battle against COVID-19.
Salute to Dr Asheem Gupta(56) Anesthesiologist,LNJP Hosp.Lost his life battling Corona.
Had spoken to him on May 3 aftr IAF flypast
"This is a moment of pride.The whole country stands with us.This honour shows that they're proud of us.We'll try to fight this disease"@ndtv (1/2) pic.twitter.com/oHIommEqPN— Sukirti Dwivedi (@SukirtiDwivedi) June 28, 2020
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took to Twitter to pay tribute to Dr Gupta. He personally contacted the family of the deceased and announced a relief of 1 crore for them. “We have lost a very valuable fighter. Delhi salutes his spirit and sacrifice,” tweeted Kejriwal. He had recently praised publicly the hard work of the doctors at LNJP Hospital.
Dr Aseem Gupta, a senior doctor of LNJP Hospital succumbed to Covid yday. He was known for going out of his way to serve his patients. We have lost a very valuable fighter. Delhi salutes his spirit and sacrifice.
I just spoke to his wife and offered my condolences and support. pic.twitter.com/0aD9nZmBoR
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) June 29, 2020
