COVID: Panel says rope in post-grads, pool hospital resources to deal with staff shortage
The two-member committee, comprising Dr Mahesh Verma, vice-chancellor of the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University and Dr BL Sherwal, director, Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital (RGSSH), was formed last week.
The panel submitted its recommendations to the government and they were forwarded to the Cabinet, the sources said.
They said the panel has recommended "roping in young blood" since senior doctors might have co-morbid conditions. It suggested enlisting second and third year postgraduate students, interns, dental surgeons and AYUSH officers, and stated there can be a course for dental surgeons and AYUSH officers so that they can take care of non-critical patients or those with mild symptoms admitted in quarantine centres.
Apart from this, the panel has also recommended pooling of hospitals' resources. For instance, if a government hospital has more number of healthcare providers or specialists, they can be sent to work in other government hospitals that might be grappling with a shortage of staff.
Nearly 2,000 healthcare workers have been infected with coronavirus in the national capital which is also one of the reasons for their shortage. Experts have also said that even though the number of beds are being increased, there need to be healthcare providers to look after them.
The two-member panel has also recommended cash incentives and commendation certificates in addition to the facilities already being provided to healthcare workers like insurance, quarantine facilities and providing them 'recommendation' for their future endeavour.
It was felt that there should be some incentive otherwise they won't continue to work indefinitely. Critical area is the main focus where the presence of healthcare workers is needed the most and the staff working there should be provided incentives.
Verma said they have submitted their recommendations to the government.
"We have advised the government about all the financial packages that can be given to healthcare providers -- not hire them on routine government packages but in addition what we can do is give them financial incentives, insurance, family insurance, transportation allowance and commendation certificates," he said.
The sources said that the panel has made these recommendations in terms of hiring of specialists, medical officers, dental officers, AYUSH officers, senior and junior residents, paramedical staff, multipurpose workers like nursing orderlies. SLB AAR AAR