More than 38,000 doctors volunteer to bear the burden of COVID-19

More than 38,000 doctors volunteer to bear the burden of COVID-19

Over 38,000 doctors, including those previously serving from the Medical Services of the Armed Forces, volunteered to help the government tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, a senior government official said on Friday.

The government had given an appeal on March 25 to physicians, including retired ones, to come forward and join efforts to combat the pandemic.

"38,162 volunteer doctors, including retired officials, medical services of the Armed Forces, public sector undertakings or private doctors, have signed up with the government to combat the COVID-19 pandemic," the official told PTI.

The official further said Niti Aayog has sent a list of names of these doctors to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

In a statement posted on the website of Niti Aayog on March 25, the government had said that those who wish to contribute to this noble mission could register themselves through a connection given on the website of the Aayog.

"The Government of India requests for volunteer doctors who are fit and willing to be available for providing their services in the public health facilities and the training hospitals shortly.

"We appeal to such doctors to come forward at this hour of need. You could also be a retired government, Armed Forces Medical Services, public sector undertaking or a private doctor," the statement had said.

It had indicated that, if the outbreak leads to a high number of infected individuals, India's public health facilities will face enormous pressure to care for a large number of patients.

Several nations, including the United States, Italy, the United Kingdom and Vietnam, had already encouraged retired health workers to return to work following the pandemic.

The number of COVID-19 cases in India has climbed to 1,65,799, making it the world's ninth worst-hit country by the coronavirus pandemic.

(Inputs from PTI)

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