1,194 claims disbursed for deceased COVID warriors: Minister tells Parliament

New Delhi: Disbursing the details of the claims taken by the families of deceased COVID warriors, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar recently informed that 1,194 of such claims have been made under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) scheme.

Under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) scheme, Rs 50 lakh would be given to the families of deceased healthcare workers who have died while serving patients during the coronavirus pandemic.

As per the ministry count, the claims include all health care workers including doctors, nurses and ASHA workers etc. 

The figures given by the union health ministry are in striking contrast with the numbers given by leading doctor associations. As per IMA, a total number of 798 doctors had lost their lives during the second wave of the pandemic alone. As per the association, around 748 doctors had succumbed to the infection during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Thus, as per the data provided by IMA, around 1546 doctors across the country have lost their lives due to the COVID-19 infection till the last month. It should be noted that this data indicates the death of only doctors, leaving aside the number of nurses and other healthcare workers who were also the victim of COVID-19 which is not publicly available.

Earlier, during the parliament session in February, the then Minister of State for Health, Ashwini Kumar Choubey had informed that based on the intimations received from the states on Healthcare staff, including Doctors, Nurse and ASHA workers who have been affected and died from COVID-19 (As per PMGKP: Insurance Scheme) include 162 doctors, 107 nurses, and 44 Asha workers. 

This had earlier created a major divide between the ministry and medical fraternity which had pointed that the numbers of COVID warrior loss were far greater than the numbers the government is projecting.

In fact, in a letter addressed to Ashwini Kumar Choubey, honourable Minister of the State MOHFW, IMA had expressed its shock by the number of deceased doctors presented. "This is contrary to the data released by the IMA... 734 doctors lost their lives due to COVID of which 431 are general practitioners who are the first point of contact for the people. Sadly 25 doctors are below 35 years of age", stated the letter.

Also Read: 798 doctors died during COVID second wave, maximum deaths in Delhi: IMA

Last year in August, the Times of India had reported that more than 87,000 healthcare workers had contracted the virus in just six states- Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, West Bengal, and Gujarat. The daily had further reported that around 573 healthcare staff had died due to the infection.

Thus, from all these figures, the total number of claims made under the PMGKP seems to be much lower than the number of deaths of Covid warriors as claimed by associations and news reports.

Minister Pawar has presented this data regarding the PMGKP insurance scheme during a Parliamentary session at the Rajya Sabha while she was replying to a question regarding the number of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers who have succumbed to Covid-19 since the onset of the pandemic. Although Minister Pawar has clarified that the Ministry doesn't maintain occupation wise data regarding Covid-19 cases and deaths she instead presented the figures of total claims made under the PMGKP insurance scheme for health workers.

Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar was replying to a number of questions raised by Shri Binoy Viswam, who sought to know about the year-wise total number of doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers who have succumbed to COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic, number of families of healthcare workers wh availed the PMGKP insurance scheme, the figures related to the insurance scheme, and if the Government has conducted any survey to assess the shortage of healthcare staff in the hospitals across the country.

Although the Minister clarified that the MOHFW does not maintain occupation-wise data on COVID-19 cases and deaths, she further stated that "However, life insurance benefits are being provided under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP): Insurance Scheme for Health Workers Fighting COVID-19."

"The scheme provides a comprehensive personal accident cover of Rs. 50 lakhs to healthcare providers, including community health workers and private health workers drafted by the Government for COVID19 related responsibilities, who may have to be in direct contact and care of COVID-19 patients and who may be at risk of being impacted by it. The benefits under the said scheme have been extended for a further period of 180 days (w.e.f. 24.04.2021)," the Minister further mentioned.

Giving a detailed State/UT wise tally regarding the total number of claims received by the ministry and the numbers of claims which have been paid, Minister Pawar further clarified, "As on 15th July 2021, a total no. of 921 doctors and healthcare workers have been paid insurance claim @50 lakh each under the said scheme."

As per the data provided by the Minister, under the old scheme, the highest numbers of claims were made in the state Maharashtra (182) and Karnataka (129), the states which also account for the highest number of doctors in the country.

Among the total number of 1079 claims which were made under the old scheme, 806 were paid and 56 are lying pending. 

On the other hand, in the second wave, a total number of 115 claims were made, 115 claims have been paid so far and 84 are pending before the Ministry. This makes the total number of claims made under the scheme to a total number of 1194, among which 921 have been paid and 140 are still under process.

State U/T Wise summary of claims under PMGKP Insurance Scheme (Old Scheme)

State/ UT wise Summary of claims under PMGKP Insurance scheme (New scheme) 

Thus as per the data provided by the Minister, a total of 1194 claims were made under PMGKP scheme, among these 921 were paid and 140 are still lying pending before the Ministry.

The Minister on Monday also answered the query related to the Government survey for assessing the shortage of healthcare staff in public or private hospitals post the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"There are 10.14 lakh Allopathic doctors and 5.65 lakh AYUSH doctors available in the country. It gives a doctor-population ratio of 1:854. Also, there are around 22.72 lakh registered nurses (RN&RM) in the country. Considering their 70% availability, there are around 16 lakh active registered nurses," stated the Minister.

She also stated about the steps taken by the Government to augment human resources for Covid management and to ensure adequate healthcare staff in hospitals. The Central Government after consulting the National medical Commission and Indian Council had issued an advisory on 03.05.2021, where the States/UTs were requested to persuade MBBS passed out doctors preparing for NEET(PG) to join Covid care duties.

Apart from this, suggestions were made to deploy medical interns for Covid Management, utilizing the services of final year MBBS students for providing services like tele-consultation and monitoring of mild Covid cases, continue utilizing the service of final year PG resident doctors. It was further suggested to utilize B.Sc/GNM qualified nurses, Final year GNM or B.Sc (Nursing) students, and Allied Health Care professionals for better management of Covid-19. 

The Government had also announced financial incentives and Covid national Service Samman to those who work for at least 100 days for Covid care and announced providing all healthcare professionals with the Insurance Scheme of Government for health workers fighting Covid-19, added the Minister.

Also Read: 776 doctors succumbed to COVID in second wave, highest in Bihar: IMA