Karnataka: 12,353 MBBS, 250 Ayush Students roped in for COVID duty

Apart from the MBBS and Ayush students almost 300 interns and nurses have been also deployed for this purpose. Besides, the State has given the responsibility of dealing with the patients under home isolation upon 5,737 medicos.

Also Read: COVID duty by MBBS students to be treated as compulsory rotating internship: NMC

Speaking to Business Line regarding the matter, Dr. K Sudhakar, Minister for Health and Medical Education said, "MBBS students have been provided training to manage home isolation, while 250 Ayush, MBBS doctors and nursing staff have been deployed at Covid Care Centres."

"About 300 interns and nurses have also been deployed at triaging centres. 5,737 medicos and 247 have been deployed to guide those under home isolation," he added.

Meanwhile, Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the apex medical education regulatory body, National Medical Commission (NMC), erstwhile Medical Council of India had earlier released an advisory stating that the Covid-19 management duty rendered by the MBBS students would be counted towards the compulsory rotating internship.

It came after the slew of major announcements made by the Prime Minister's Office in view of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic across the country and the shortage of healthcare personnel to battle it.

In an attempt to further augment the manpower to fight the pandemic, the government announced that the services of final year MBBS students can be utilized for providing services like teleconsultation and monitoring of mild Covid cases after due orientation by faculty.