The Indian Medical Association (IMA) observed January 30 as COVID Martyrs’ Day across the country.

COVID Martyrs Day is observed to pay tribute to the heroes of the medical fraternity who sacrificed their lives in the fight against the pandemic. This day draws the government’s attention to the non-payment of compensation to the families of doctors who lost their lives during the pandemic.

The Indian Medical Association’s (IMA) Dharwad branch paid rich tributes to the doctors who lost their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the program organized at Dharwad, the fraternity paid homage to four doctors: Dr. H. M. Javali, Dr. Shivashankar Pol, Dr. S. H. Kulkarni, and Dr. Prakash Dixit.

On Tuesday, IMA Pune honored the families of the doctors who died while offering their services during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Maharashtra, more than 74 doctors and six in Pune died while offering their services during the pandemic. But none of these doctors' families have received compensation under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP). Among the families of the six doctors from Pune who died during COVID-19, the IMA Pune felicitated Usha Bhoge, wife of the late Dr. Dilip Bhoge, and Sheila Tambe, mother of the late Dr. Sajid Tambe. The families of the remaining four doctors who died during the pandemic have shifted from Pune to other cities and could not attend the program. IMA Pune president Dr. Raju Varyani; secretary Dr. Geetanjali Sharma; executive trustee Dr. Sanjay Patil; and past president Dr. Jayant Navarange conveyed their gratitude towards the doctors who died while offering their services during the pandemic.

The IMA, Andhra Pradesh Chapter, commemorated January 30, which marks the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, as COVID Martyrs’ Day. P. Phaninadra, IMA State General Secretary, said while 125 doctors died in the line of duty during the pandemic in the state, the number is more than 2,000 when we talk of the country. Former IMA national president and Padma Shree awardee K.K. Agarwal and former IMA state president Potluri Gangadhara Rao were prominent among those who died.

Observing COVID Martyrs’ Day on January 30, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in Rajasthan revealed that despite at least 65 doctors succumbing to COVID-19 in the state, only 20 families have received compensation under the PMGKP so far.

In spite of the doctors' philanthropic sacrifice in saving the lives of the country's people during the pandemic, the government, responsible for providing compensation to the affected families, has not compensated all the doctors.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Komal Bhoi/MSM)