‘Many doctors and paramedical personnel are falling ill, and it is difficult to run institutions’
Doctors say as healthcare workers continue to test positive for COVID-19 across the state, the absence of clear guidelines for quarantine leave and isolation is hurting the system.
The current rapid spread of COVID-19 has not spared the healthcare workers (HCWs). Interrogation of doctors working in several government hospitals has revealed that a large number of HCWs have tested positive for the virus and in many cases, they are also asymptomatic.
A doctor working in an affiliated institute of Madras Medical College said that there have been several cases of re-infection among healthcare workers. “The doctors know the specificity and sensitivity of the RT-PCR test. Therefore, if a test result comes back negative for an HCW with typical symptoms, they will need to repeat the test. However, this is not being done. They should not settle for a negative result from a single test. The continuous exposure is affecting many HCWs,” he said.
“Most of my colleagues tested positive for COVID-19, but they soon recovered within a week. Therefore, about 30-50% health workers in our departments are positive, mostly CRRIs (Interns) and postgraduates. Most of them were engaged in non-COVID works. It is very difficult to manage wards with very few PGs and CRRIs. For example, all CRRIs tested positive for COVID-19 in my ward,” said a postgraduate at Government Stanley Medical College Hospital.
There is also a shortage of staff nurses, he said, adding, “The challenge is the requirement of manpower in non-COVID wards. There is no proper quarantine and accommodation facilities for doctors on COVID-19 duty. While this should be ensured, the health department should recruit additional staff,” he said.
Service Doctors and Post Graduates Association has urged the government to bring guidelines for quarantine leave for doctors and healthcare workers – working in COVID-19 intensive care units, wards, care centers for isolation and their duty periods have been cured after; Those who are positive but asymptomatic. For HCWs, who become symptomatic and are hospitalised, the period of their hospital stay should be treated as a special casual leave, followed by a quarantine leave, depending on the severity of illness and co-morbidity. But, as suggested by the treating physician.
State President of Service Doctors and Post Graduates Association P. Saminathan said that at least 40% HCWs are infected so far. “In the first wave, HCWs were asked to get tested immediately if they cough. Now, only those with symptoms like high-grade fever are asked to get tested. But this may not be applicable to HCWs as testing them is an absolute necessity for running the institute. There were quarantine and isolation guidelines in 2020 and 2021. Now, there are no guidelines as the heads of the institutions are taking decisions as per their wish and choice. We need similar guidelines, as has been done in the last two years, and this should be done on scientific basis,” he said.
Many doctors and paramedical personnel are falling ill, and it is difficult to run the institutions, he said, adding, “With no admissions in the first year of PGs, the number of PGs has come down by 30%. This has increased the burden of PGs working in ICUs and COVID-19 wards of medical colleges. ,
He said that if HCWs with mild to moderate symptoms continue to function, they will become sources of infection. “There should be a seven-day quarantine leave for those working in the ICU. A part of the hostels may be earmarked for quarantine/isolation of doctors,” he said.
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