Speed Post News Network
New Delhi :Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 3, 2021, reviewed the growing need of adequate human resources for responding to the Covid-19 pandemic in the country. Many important decisions were taken which will significantly boost availability of medical personnel in Covid duty. A decision was taken to postpone NEET-PG for at least 4 months and the exam will not be held before August 31, 2021. Students will also be given at least one month of time after announcement of exam before it is conducted. This will make a large number of qualified doctors available for Covid duties.
It was also decided to allow deployment of Medical Interns in Covid Management duties under the supervision of their faculty as part of the Internship rotation. The services of Final Year MBBS students can be utilised for providing services like tele-consultation and monitoring of mild Covid cases after due orientation by and under supervision of Faculty. This will reduce the workload on existing doctors engaged in Covid duty.
The services of Final Year PG Students (broad as well as super-specialities) as residents may continue to be utilised until fresh batches of PG Students have joined. B.Sc./GNM Qualified Nurses may be utilised in full-time Covid nursing duties under the supervision of Senior Doctors and Nurses. The individuals providing services in Covid management will be given priority in forthcoming regular Government recruitments after they complete minimum of 100 days of Covid duty, according to a PIB release.
The medical students/professionals sought to be engaged in Covid related work will be suitably vaccinated. All Health professionals thus engaged will be covered under the Insurance Scheme of Government for health workers engaged in fighting Covid 19. All such professionals who sign up for minimum 100 days of Covid duty and complete it successfully will also be given the Prime Minister’s Distinguished Covid National Service Samman from Government of India.
Doctors, nurses,and allied professionals form the backbone of covid management and are also the frontline personnel. Their presence in adequate strength is critical to address the needs of the patients well.
The Central Government had issued guidelines on June 16, 2020, to facilitate engagement of Doctors/Nurses for Covid duties. A special Rs 15,000 crore Public Health Emergency Support was provided by the Central Government to ramp up facilities and human resources for Covid management. Engaging personnel through the National Health Mission, an additional 2,206 specialists, 4,685 medical officers, and 25,593 staff nurses were recruited through this process.