New Delhi: At a time when doctors across the country are facing shortages of protective gear required when treating patients infected with Covid-19, a Rajasthan-based doctor has highlighted how a district collector was seen wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE), while medical staff standing next to him had none.
A picture tweeted by the doctor, Pankaj Meena Khoker, has gone viral. The picture was accompanied by a short message: “When an IAS officer wears a full PPE kit and doctors wear normal clothes and mask……I don’t think Modi’s promise is working here.”
When an IAS officer wears a full PPE kit and doctors wear normal clothes and mask……I don’t think Modi’s promise is working here #uglyindianbureaucracy@PMOIndia @narendramodi @drharshvardhan @DrHarjitBhatti @drpankajsolanki @UnitedRda @FordaIndia @RajCMO @CMODelhi pic.twitter.com/UqojffI5oF
— Pankaj Meena Khoker (@dr_pankajmeena) April 3, 2020
The picture seems to be from Indore in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, as written on the wall behind the IAS officer in the picture.
The tweet comes at a time when over 50 healthcare professionals — including doctors, nurses, and other paramedical staff — in India have tested positive for Covid-19.
In a nationwide survey conducted by the central government in late March, IAS officers from across districts too had highlighted the shortage of medical and protective equipment needed to battle the deadly pandemic.
Also read: What is PPE, and why it is essential in the fight against coronavirus
Should IAS officers’ safety be prioritised over doctors’?
The doctor’s tweet has generated a debate on whether IAS officers can be classified as an ‘essential service’ and need the protective gear, or should the protection of doctors be prioritised.
only because the image you shared is from Indore,MP. I agree we should be the first ones but please don't undermine others who are part of essential services. https://t.co/XebKSKWqgj
— That_Medic (@drMedicOnCall) April 4, 2020
That is the said situation in our country, here’s administration and politicians gets upper hand,and that resulted in the current situation in across the state. Our current poor health care system is due to such type of people’s.
— Dr.JEEVEN SINGH (@drjeeveniihmr11) April 3, 2020
According to some reports, there has been a sense of alarm among Indian healthcare professionals, with doctors maintaining that there is a shortage of PPE in India.
Earlier in March, the World Health Organization warned that “severe and mounting disruption to the global supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) — caused by rising demand, panic buying, hoarding and misuse — is putting lives at risk from the new coronavirus and other infectious diseases”.
“Healthcare workers rely on personal protective equipment to protect themselves and their patients from being infected and infecting others,” WHO had said.
“But shortages are leaving doctors, nurses and other frontline workers dangerously ill-equipped to care for Covid-19 patients, due to limited access to supplies such as gloves, medical masks, respirators, goggles, face shields, gowns, and aprons,” it added.
Also read: Govt wants report on PPE, ventilator, test kit stock, asks states, UTs to reply by 5 April