776 Doctors Have Died During Second Wave Of COVID-19 In India, More Deaths Than In First Wave
The number of those losing their lives in the line of duty during the COVID-19 pandemic in India continues to remain a matter of concern.
According to data available by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) as many as 776 doctors have succumbed to COVID-19 during the second wave so far.
Bihar saw the maximum number of 115 deaths, followed by Delhi at 109, Uttar Pradesh 79, West Bengal 62, Rajasthan 43, Jharkhand 39, and Andhra Pradesh 38, the data showed.
Earlier this month, the IMA had said that 719 doctors succumbed to COVID-19 during the?second wave?till May.
But in less than a month, nearly 60 more lost their lives, taking the toll past the number of doctors killed in 2020 when the pandemic began.?
According to the IMA, 748 doctors died in the first wave of the pandemic.
Last year 748 doctors died
"Last year 748 doctors across India succumbed to COVID-19, while in the current second wave, in a short period we have lost 730 doctors," a doctor said.
Even when doctors and other healthcare workers are putting their lives at risk every day to treat those infected with the virus, they are increasingly coming under physical attacks by relatives of patients.
In recent times there has an increase in the number of attacks on doctors across India.
Recently, the IMA and other organizations had held protests demanding security for them.
The Health Services Personnel and Clinical Establishment (Prohibition of Violence and Damage to Property) Bill, 2019, which sought to impose a jail term up to 10 years for assaulting on-duty doctors and other healthcare professionals, was dismissed by the Home Ministry saying the special law was not feasible as health is a state subject, the IMA had said.
"There are many central health laws such as the PCPNDT Act and the Clinical Establishment Act. Currently, 21 states have local laws, but what we need is a strong central law to protect doctors from violence," the doctors' body had said.
