Families of Only 30 percent of doctors who died due to COVID-19 received compensation till 2023, reveals RTI

New Delhi: In response to a Right to Information query asking about the total Covid martyrs compensated under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP), the New India Assurance Company has revealed that the families of only 475 doctors out of 1596 have been compensated under the scheme so far.

This was revealed by the authorities in response to an RTI application filed by Kannur-based ophthalmologist and RTI activist Dr K V Babu. Based on the data, it is clear that only 29 per cent of doctors' families have received the compensation, indicating that around 71 per cent of families of healthcare workers are still waiting for their compensation under the scheme.

According to the RTI, the government has paid altogether Rs. 237.5 crores to the families of 475 COVID martyrs. Last year, only 428 families of the doctors received compensation which indicates that only an additional 47 COVID martyrs have been compensated this year. 

The data collected by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) reveals that around 1596 doctors passed away in the first two waves of the pandemic – 757 in the first wave and 839 in the second wave and around 1800 doctors lost their lives due to COVID-19. 

Also read- 73% Families Of Doctors Who Died Due To COVID Yet To Receive Compensation From Centre: RTI Revelation

In an RTI filed on October 23, Dr K V Babu sought information on the total number of beneficiaries who have received compensation under the scheme since its launch on March 30, 2020, the total amount disbursed to doctors, the total amount disbursed to other healthcare workers nurse, staff & other community healthcare workers and lastly, state wise date of doctors and healthcare workers who died during the pandemic.

In response to this, the authorities on November 21, 2023, informed a sum of Rs 1122 crore has been disbursed as compensation to 2,244 families. Among them, 475 families of doctors have received Rs. 237.5 crores, while Rs. 884.5 crores have been paid to 1,769 families of health workers as of October 23.

When replying to the list of doctors and health workers who died during the pandemic, the government said that the date is now available as they don’t have the data on the total number of doctors who died during the pandemic. 

Despite the government's failure to provide a comprehensive list of doctors and healthcare workers who lost their lives during the pandemic, the Indian Medical Association (IMA), which represents over 3.5 lakh doctors, took the initiative to compile a detailed state-wise list of doctors who passed away while serving on the frontlines.

During the first wave, 757 doctors lost their lives, with Tamil Nadu recording the highest number of deaths at 90, followed by West Bengal at 80. Other states that reported significant numbers of deaths included Maharashtra (74), Andhra Pradesh (70), Karnataka (68), Uttar Pradesh (66), Gujarat (62) and Bihar (40) as reported by TNIE.

In the second wave, Delhi recorded the highest number of deaths, with 128 doctors losing their lives, out of a total of 839 deaths. It was followed by Bihar (115), Uttar Pradesh (79), West Bengal (65) and Tamil Nadu (64), Andhra Pradesh (48), Odisha (46), Telangana (43) and Gujarat and Jharkhand reported 30 deaths each.

Speaking to Medical Dialogues, Dr Babu said “The IMA has prepared a state-wise list of doctors who died during the two Covid-19 waves. According to their data, 1,596 doctors laid down their lives. If we keep that data in mind - in the absence of government data - the centre has paid compensation to just 29.1 per cent of doctors’ families. This means only 475 families have been compensated so far. During the pandemic, all the practising doctors were at risk of COVID-19 infection, whether general practitioners, specialists, or those working in Covid-19 designated hospitals."

The PMGKP was launched on 30th March 2020 to provide comprehensive personal accident cover of Rs. 50 Lakh to 22.12 lakh health care providers including community health workers and private health workers who may have been in direct contact and care of COVID-19 patients and may be at risk of being impacted by this. 

"It's clear from the RTI data, that a huge majority of Covid martyr doctors' dependents are not compensated by the PMPKG, though many of them had to open their clinical establishments under compulsion since many state governments enforced epidemic acts to open clinics and hospitals. It is very unfortunate that the Government of India is not willing to recognize the services rendered by the profession when the nation was going through an unprecedented health crisis. I earnestly request the PMO to intervene and respect the martyrdom of our fellow doctors," Dr Babu added.

Also read- Madhya Pradesh: Compensation Worth Rs 50 Lakh Given To Kin Of 15 Out Of 61 Doctors Only