COVID Crisis: Due To Lack Of Protective Gear, Indian Doctors Forced To Use Helmets & Raincoats

Frontline troops--doctors, nurses, paramedics and ambulance drivers among others--are putting their lives at risk every single day to make sure that the coronavirus pandemic comes to an end.

They have saved thousands of lives and some unfortunately, even lost their own. Without them fighting day and night, the world wouldn't know what to do to save itself from the deadly virus.

However, due to the lack of protective gear, doctors in India are putting themselves at even higher risk. According to Reuters, medical officials have resorted to using helmets and raincoats in order to avoid getting infected. This has exposed the sad state of the healthcare system in the country. Doctors and nurses are not being provided with the most important things which can keep them safe.

Reuters

The report also suggests that the central government claimed that they were trying to acquire the protective gear in bulk quantities locally as well as from South Korea and China.

Several doctors expressed their concern over becoming carriers of the disease due to the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the report also adds that studies suggest that more than 100,000 people will be infected by mid-May. Due to the fact that India's healthcare system is severely underfunded, this could put a lot of strain on the doctors.

Reuters

In Beleghata Infectious Disease Hospital in Kolkata, the doctors were provided with plastic raincoats to cover themselves while treating the patients. However, the doctors are also apprehensive of disclosing their identities since they could be reprimanded for the same. However, Dr Sandeep Garg of ESI Hospital in Haryana told Reuters, ¡°I put on a helmet - it has a visor in front so it covers my face, adding another layer over the surgical mask."

A senior federal government official in New Delhi who refused to be named told Reuters that, "We are living on a prayer, it¡¯s not that we can save ourselves by relying on the health system."

The report's conclusion states that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare did not respond to make a statement. India has one of the lowest percentage of their GDP spent on public health which is about 1.3%

AFP

The current state of India's healthcare system can not only pose a threat to the lives of patients but also the medical officials who are fighting the virus and trying to keep us alive. Our prayers are with those who are putting their lives in danger to help others out and we really hope that the government addresses this matter soon.