Days after renowned consultant at the GMC, Dr Rachita Gupta Velho, passed away due to a cardiac arrest, a senior doctor at the hospital, Dr Jagdish Kakodkar, disclosed in a social media post that he is undergoing bypass surgery next week. He also informed that two other doctors are admitted for heart conditions. The long-ignored Covid-related stress among the medical fraternity appears to be heading towards a flashpoint and has become a subject of serious discussion.
The doctor’s post comes as no surprise against the backdrop of work overload, but what is of concern is the level of helplessness that emerges from his lines. He writes: What surprised me was at my age, with no prior risk factor, no family history of heart disease, zero smoking/drinking or addictions or existing comorbidities, except workplace stress, how it could be this bad. God has His plans I guess, and I surrender in His hands. Perhaps God sent us a strong warning for GMC doctors, including me, to take a forcible break from non-stop duties. He makes a passionate plea to other doctors and health care workers to team up with those who are tirelessly working non-stop during the pandemic.
Dr Jagdish’s post, while explaining his condition of health, exposes an inconsiderate system that has continuously failed to take cognizance of the well-being of its warriors. A doctor speaking of divine providence in the form of a forceful break tells the bleak side of the story. The bigger irony, however, is when many senior doctors are bullied into silence by the system and an overpowering force, that they are left with no other option but to go through this torturous regime in silence. Dr Jagdish’s post has in a small measure, ended up exposing the underlying bitter truth.
Let’s understand the fact that doctors, nurses and healthcare workers in Goa are not accustomed to handling such a colossal human tragedy. They helplessly cried silent tears as 50-60 bodies piled up daily when the second wave of Covid hit its peak between April and June this year. They were helpless when beds fell short and ICUs ran full, and patients slept on the floors in corridors and pathways, and sometimes even on trolleys struggling for medical attention. Battling through this non-stop and serving these people is one of the greatest human sacrifices one can think of.
Doctors, nurses and frontline workers have been grappling with fatigue, exhaustion, mental trauma, emotional breakdown, fear, anxiety, long shifts and a severe shortage of manpower for nearly 15 months. The question is why has this critical issue not been addressed so far. The State has witnessed substantial dips in Covid cases “ first towards the end of the first wave and second is the current phase. Why has the health ministry not remedied this situation of healthcare workers?
It is heart-breaking to lose doctors and nurses or to see them undergo an emotional breakdown, especially after they have endured all odds to save lives, sometimes even risking theirs. There will be blood on the hands of those who have conveniently ignored the human side of this issue. The health ministry must step in and engage the expert committee to do a post-mortem on the status of front line warriors immediately before the third wave strikes and inflicts further pain.
