Government will walk the extra mile to protect doctors, Centre tells Supreme Court

The Centre today assured the Supreme Court of adequate steps and measures being taken by the authorities to protect the doctors and healthcare staff on the frontline amid COVID-19 pandemic..The Supreme Court Bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and S Ravindra Bhat took up petitions for hearing concerning facilities and protective gear for doctors and healthcare workers on the frontline amid COVID-19 outbreak. The matters were heard via video conferencing..The primary concern in all these petitions pertained to protective gear, including Hazmat suits, PPE kits, masks and others, for those medical and healthcare professionals who are actively dealing with Corona positive cases. .Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Court that the Government is taking all the necessary steps to ensure that the doctors and staff who are the "Corona Warriors" in the situation are protected from the contagion..The Government and the Police will walk the extra mile to protect the DoctorsSolicitor General Mehta told the Court.Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi representing one of the petitioners told the Court that the Doctors are afraid given the present scenario. The Court also raised the concern of the well-being and protection of the doctors, the healthcare staff, as well as their families. .The Apex Court suggested setting up of a mechanism at District levels with nodal officers appointed who would be in-charge of taking suggestions from people in dealing with the crisis. This would include suggestions on regulatory mechanism for people in the service sector working remotely from home, the Court said..Mehta, however, informed the Court that a Central Control room with officials from various concerned ministries, including Home, Health, and AYUSH, was put in place for receiving calls with complaints and suggestions..Another concern raised by Rohatgi touches upon the news report of Corona positive patients escaping from the medical facilities. Mehta assured the Court, however, that Police pickets are being placed near hospitals to ensure that patients tested positive for the novel corona virus do not mix with others jeopardising the safety of everyone..The news reports concering salary cuts of the doctors and health workers was also touched upon during the hearing with Rohatgi flagging the concern while placing reliance on media reports and Mehta denying the same. .Mehta submitted that not only are there any salary cuts for employees and doctors in government hospitals but the government will also be writing to all the States to ensure that the same does not happen anywhere. Salaries ought not be deducted even for the purposes for buying masks and PPE kits, Mehta said..The three petitioners were represented by Senior Advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Jaideep Gupta and Advocate Sunil Fernandes.