IMA condemns AIIMS order to suspend contact tracing, quarantine for exposed HCWs

Written by Sanchari Chattopadhyay Published On 2021-04-29T10:15:00+05:30 | Updated On 29 April 2021 2:59 PM IST

IMA condemns AIIMS order to suspend contact tracing, quarantine for exposed HCWs

New Delhi: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has condemned the recent order of AIIMS allowing quarantine duration of Covid-19 positive Health Care Worker (HCW) for only 10 days amid staff shortage.

The Association has expressed strong resentment towards the "unhumanitarian attitude towards the Healthcare Workers" who work amidst valiant threat to their and their family members' life with COVID.

Pointing out that the health ministry guidelines mandating a minimum 17 days quarantine, the association called it an absolute infringement on the basic right of HCW and asked the authorities to revoke the order to provide early testing, comprehensive assured treatment opportunity for health care workers by allotting separate dedicated beds for only COVID infected HCWs.

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that AIIMS had decided to discontinue contact tracing of exposed healthcare workers and quarantine of asymptomatic contacts amid the current COVID-19 situation that has led to insufficient resources and shortage of staff. Only symptomatic healthcare workers (HCWs) would be tested and only those testing positive would be isolated and managed as per the clinical condition.

Moreover, it was also announced that asymptomatic healthcare workers would be able to join work after 10 days period from the onset of symptoms provided that they are afebrile for at least the last 24 hours without the use of antipyretics and symptoms (cough, shortness of breath) have improved. Those who are asymptomatic would join work 10 days from the date of the first positive test.

Also Read: AIIMS halts contact tracing of healthcare workers exposed to Covid-19 amid staff shortage

Criticizing the move, in the letter to the Health Secretary, IMA stated, " HCW is exposed to COVID positive patient and get asymptomatic COVID he is still a carrier and can spread the infection to many in the pretext of executing treatment to poor patients. Not testing their disease status at the pretext of shortage of staff is lethal to fraternity and community."

Referring to the AIIMS order which stated that if symptomatic, HCW would be tested and if positive only 10 days quarantine would be permitted, the doctors' body pointed out, " This is an absolute infringement on the basic right of HCW as a citizen to get minimum adequate care, support and time to revamp. MoHFW guidelines mandate minimum 17 days quarantine and rest after a symptomatic cold."

The association also informed that after AIIMS issued the order many of the hospitals are also following it now. However, if authorities tax and overstretch the existing staff then health care workers will end up in acute crisis, it added.

Raising an alarm on the scarcity of workforce, IMA sought the attention of the authorities on improving the impending manpower shortage in the pandemic.

"Please on war footing conduct the NEET PG and INCET PG exams to make many Postgraduates and Junior Doctors join the service. 1.78 lakh doctors are waiting for the exams, and till exams are over they will not join the service", stated IMA.

In the letter signed by IMA President, Dr J A Jayalal, the association requested the authorities to have compassionate empathy towards the working HCW in the AIIMS and other health care institutions and to revoke the said order to provide early testing and assured treatment opportunity for Health Care Workers.

indian medical associationIMAAIIMShealthcare workersCOVID testCOVIDcoronavirusasymptomatic contactscontact tracing

Sanchari Chattopadhyay

Sanchari Chattopadhyay has pursued her M.A in English and Culture Studies from the University of Burdwan, West Bengal. She likes observing cultural specificities and exploring new places.