Junior doctors working in Covid wards have to contend with low stipends, risk of infection all while planning their studies amidst the pandemic 

“Lala, take care of mother and father, after me, it is you, who will take care of everything.” These were the last words of 31-year-old Deepak Singh to his brother Dharmendra. A medical intern in MY hospital of Indore, Madhya Pradesh, Deepak died of coronavirus infection. His family believe he could have been saved, had he received medical attention on time.

“Till 27 March, he was looking for a bed but could not find it. On 28, his condition worsened, as damage to his lungs was around 80%. We immediately admitted him to the ICU ward.” says Dharmendra. 

“Bhaiya was not able to speak, but he texted me to arrange a separate bed for him, as nobody was there to attend to him. We contacted DMs, MLA, and MPs everyone, but to no avail. Eventually when we got a bed on 8 April, his condition was dire. The only way for him to survive was a lung transplant and before anything could be done he had succumbed to the virus.”

Deepak had to take care of his own treatment for almost 10 days in his room without informing his family. Despite being a doctor in the prestigious medical college of Indore he couldn’t find a bed.

“That is what the Junior Doctor association is demanding, we should at least get bed in hospitals for ourselves and our family members.” Says Doctor Arvind Meena, president of Junior Doctors’ Association in MP.

“Thankfully we are fully vaccinated, otherwise, we would all have died,”he adds. The Indian Medical Association has said that 513 doctors have died in India in the second wave alone. In the first wave the total number of deaths were 748.

The question of pay

As many as 3000 junior doctors of six hospitals in Madhya Pradesh  on Monday protested,  demanding free treatment for them and their families in case of contracting Covid and also hike in stipend.

“We understand that we all are working in a crisis situation. But we are working in a Covid ward, if our family member got infected through us, and require a bed. What then? There have been situations where our family couldn’t get a bed.” Said Ran Singh Joint Secretary JUDA.

In Covid duties, medical interns are being paid 10,000 rupees in MP, Which intern says, “doesn’t help bear expenses”. The stipend varies from state to state, in UP where earlier the amount was 7500, in Covid duty the official amount for medical interns is 15000 rupees, in Rajasthan they are paid 7,000, While Jharkhand and Delhi pays highest, 23000 and 20000 thousand respectively. 

The most important challenge is arranging food.  “For food we have to rely on charities or arrange it through our own expenses. After working on eight hour shifts, we have to cook. From where we will get it? We don’t earn enough to order food everyday. This can’t be done in 10,000 per month. More importantly, delay in stipend payment by the government is a common trend.” a medical intern at MGM hospital Indore tells us on the condition of anonymity.

Although stipend for junior doctors is relatively better it also varies from state to state. Junior doctors believe that the stipend paid to them is very less. “In MP for first, second and third year, the amount paid is 55000, 57000, 59000 thousand respectively. Through which we have to manage our family expenses, college fees, health and everything.” says Meena.

Junior Doctors of other states have also been protesting to demand fair wages. On 27 May, Telangana Junior doctors went on strike in solidarity with  doctors who succumbed to Covid-19 to demand formal announcement of ex- gratia and raise in stipend. Most of the other states have formally announced Ex-gratia for Covid warriors. 

Not just that, even in the Capital, the reputed Safdarjung hospital is hiring doctors while paying 25,000-35,000 less than pre-pandemic stipend. The Print reported that they are facing salary cuts and delayed payment.

Question of Career

In every state junior doctors, who are also pursuing higher studies have lost one year in Covid Duty. “Doctors of every field are feeling this but it is a crisis situation and we are ready to serve but at least we need respectful treatment from our governments.” Said Singh. 

Due to paucity of medical professionals, all doctors and interns irrespective of their specialisation are doing Covid duty, They are demanding “fees waiver” and termination of one year compulsory rural service. So that “they can focus on their specialisation.”

Junior doctors are required to serve one year of compulsory rural service to tackle paucity of doctors in rural areas. The Supreme Court in 2019 observed that since the government spends on the training of doctors in government hospitals, the one year compulsory rural service bond must be there. In fact, seeing the condition in rural areas, a parliamentary committee in March recommended 3- years of  compulsory rural service.

However, Junior doctors aren’t liking it. Doctor Ran Singh, who is also a Dermatologist, believes that focus on Covid shouldn’t result in a lax approach to other diseases. Since we have lost one year, we need to focus on our specialisation. Covid can’t be for forever. “Leprosy is a disease which also requires utmost care. We must focus on Covid but these diseases also require attention.”

Meena said, “Hospitals should relieve junior doctors to enable them to return to their studies as soon as the number of cases start to fall”.