India News | Data on Health Workers Infected or Who Died During COVID Duty Not Maintained at Central Level:Govt
Get latest articles and stories on India at LatestLY. Data on the number of healthcare workers who are infected by the coronavirus infection or have lost their lives during COVID-19 duty is not maintained at the central level by the health ministry, the government told Lok Sabha on Friday.
New Delhi, Sep 18 (PTI) Data on the number of healthcare workers who are infected by the coronavirus infection or have lost their lives during COVID-19 duty is not maintained at the central level by the health ministry, the government told Lok Sabha on Friday.
However, details of the number of persons seeking relief under the “Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Insurance Package for Health Workers Fighting COVID-19" is maintained at the national level, Minister of State (MoS) for Health Ashwini Choubey said in a written reply.
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According to details of the scheme, a total of 155 healthcare staff, including 64 doctors, have died due to the coronavirus infection in the country as on September 11.
In response to a question on compensation or job, Choubey said no specific scheme in context of COVID-19 has been proposed for compensation or job to the next of kin of such deceased doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers.
To a question on the number of doctors, paramedics and other official staff serving in government and private hospitals who were affected and died during COVID-19 duty , the minister said, "Data on number of healthcare workers who are infected by COVID-19 or number of such persons who have lost lives during COVID duty is not maintained at central level by Ministry of Health".
However, insurance provision has been made under the “Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package for Health Workers Fighting COVID-19”, a central sector scheme, he said.
The scheme provides an insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh to healthcare providers, including community health workers, who may have to be in direct contact and care of COVID-19 patients and who may be at risk of being impacted by this, Choubey said.
It will also include accidental loss of life on account of contracting COVID-19, the minister informed.
(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)