The medical fraternity, especially doctors singed in the first wave of COVID-19, are in danger of burn out, warn senior medicos and experts
Doctors are also currently involved in vaccinations against COVID-19. File pic
The second wave of COVID-19 has brought with it the fear of burn out among the medical community, not just physically and emotionally, but also psychologically. The fear of contracting the virus, taking it home, working in the hot and humid conditions with temperatures varying from 35 °C to 39 °C in PPE suits with no AC facility has returned, but they are also worried about the academic loss that they will suffer in their specialities.
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Terrible conditions
“The jumbo make-shift hospitals and quarantine centres are a nightmare for both patients and the healthcare workers. The non-insulated designs of temporary roofs and partitions here are heat traps. The fans throw hot air on patients and healthcare workers alike. The healthcare workers in PPE suits are dehydrated, over-worked and face increasing deaths without an opportunity to unwind and de-stress with colleagues and psychologists. They also face high grade burn out,” said Dr Subhash Hira, professor of Global Health at the University of Washington-Seattle.
“The second wave brings with it the fear of burn out among the medical community not just physically and emotionally but psychologically. What is more worrisome is the academic loss that the doctors are going to suffer in their specialities. These academic losses will affect even the patients needing specific treatments. The training of post graduate medical students has been compromised due to the pandemic last year and if this continues, it will be troublesome for the institutions, medical community and public in general. How to recover from these problems is the challenge that lies ahead,” said Dr Shradha Maheshwari, brain and spine surgeon, Department of Neurosurgery, Dr R N Cooper Hospital.
‘No compensation given’
Speaking to mid-day, Dr Sanjay Kumavat, senior consulting psychiatrist, Jupiter hospital, Thane said, “Once again the junior resident doctors, post graduate students, etc. are forced to work on COVID duties rather than focus on their specialities. General hospitals© medical educational institutes were converted into COVID centres, this has further complicated the matter for PG students.”
Dr Dinesh Thakare, co-chairman Indian Medical Association (IMA) National Medico Legal Cell based in Amravati, said, “Nearly 750 doctors have died during the course of duty. Last year, the Central and state governments forced doctors to start their clinics and hospitals to treat non-COVID patients. Some doctors died but their next of kin were deprived of compensation on the pretext that the deceased doctor was not posted in a government facility. Some of their family members contracted the infection and died. The doctors were not given sufficient recognition for their commendable job. Recently, there was a government diktat that a doctor will be penalised if his/her home quarantined patient is found roaming. This is like penalising doctors for somebody else’s wrongdoings” said Dr Thakare.
“The doctors are forced to follow all such diktats from the health department and government, and if they are found deficient, they are threatened with penal action or cancellation of their registration,” he said.
“Some social elements abuse doctors at times. The government and public representatives also need to be specific, when they refer to a doctor for a wrongdoing instead of making generalised statements against the whole fraternity. Such statements demoralise the whole fraternity. Doctors need a strong support system to maintain their physical and emotional health. The negative mind set developed in doctors because of the government©s improper handling of their issues, will add to their burn out, which will prove detrimental to efforts to control the pandemic,” explained Dr Thakare.
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