Dr. Babu, based in Kannur, pointed out that the data from the Union Health Ministry clearly shows that a vast majority of the COVID-martyred Indian doctors are not beneficiaries of the insurance scheme.“It is a big let-down by the government of India. It is also very distressing for doctors and their families that the Supreme Court has not listed the Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the last two years,” he said.“It is such a sad and disappointing state of affairs that the martyrdom of Indian doctors who bravely fought COVID-19 is not respected by the authorities anymore,” he added.According to the data provided via RTI in November 2023, 2,244 beneficiaries, including 475 doctors, were compensated.By December 17, the number of beneficiaries had increased to 2,294 – 50 more compared to the previous year. “It is clear from the earlier data that not even 500 COVID-martyred doctors are beneficiaries under PMGKP,” he said.Dr. Babu added that out of a total spending of ₹1,147 crores, less than ₹250 crores have been paid to doctors’ families.According to the IMA, which has been raising the matter with the Union Health Ministry, a total of 1,596 doctors – 757 in the first wave and 839 in the second wave – lost their lives.Dr. Babu said that many doctors who died during the pandemic were compelled to open their clinics due to state governments enforcing the Epidemic Act, which mandated that clinics and other medical establishments remain open.In 2022, the ministry informed Parliament that there is no “disaggregated data on deaths due to COVID-19 by profession or otherwise” that is “maintained centrally.”Of the 757 doctors who died during the first wave, Tamil Nadu reported 90 deaths, followed by West Bengal (80), Maharashtra (74), Andhra Pradesh (70), Karnataka (68), Uttar Pradesh (66), Gujarat (62), and Bihar (40).In the second wave, the highest number of deaths was reported in Delhi. Of the 839 doctors who died, 128 were from Delhi. Bihar reported 115 deaths, followed by Uttar Pradesh (79), West Bengal (65), Tamil Nadu (64), Andhra Pradesh (48), Odisha (46), Telangana (43), and Gujarat and Jharkhand with 30 deaths each.An SLP was filed in the Supreme Court, raising the issue of the non-disbursal of assured government medical cover to healthcare professionals who served the nation during the COVID-19 pandemic and died.
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