In a bizarre turn of events, the government administrationwas forced to restore accommodation facilities to resident doctors posted atCovid hospitals at Margao after they threatened to refrain from dischargingduties at the ESI designated Covid hospital and the South Goa Districthospital. The question here is whether the government is forgetting the workput in by these warriors, or have the priorities shifted? Has the desperationto cash on tourism overtaken everything else?
Around 60 doctors who are working at the twoCovid hospitals in Margao and some nurses have been given hotel accommodation.This is not a luxury by any measure, at least not in these circumstances. Onthe contrary, it benefits the system because there is always help at hand, forthe sheer fact that these doctors can be called back to duty in an emergency.It only facilitates the process because of better access to doctors.
Resident doctors and nurses have been at theforefront of this Covid battle, and have relentlessly stood up to challengesall along these gruelling seven months. Hailed as Covid warriors and honouredwith flower-petal showers a few months back, it is rather unimaginable thatthey are being meted with such indifferent treatment now. Ironically, even asdoctors are given back their accommodation, nurses from the district hospitalhave been told to travel or pay up.
Why are contract nurses being treated soshabbily? These nurses, including the recently appointed ones, never get theirsalaries in time. And every time the Finance Department is being blamed. Whyare systems not in place to ensure that they are paid in time just as othergovernment employees? In fact, they deserve salaries just like other doctorsand medical workers because of the service they are providing in treatingpatients.
The health minister and the government hasflattered to deceive and only paid lip service with its so-called slogan of'Covid warriors'. This badge of honour has not come with any rewards for them.On the contrary, it has given a small cushion to the government, which wasbeing hammered for Covid mismanagement. May we ask what happened to theadditional salary perks and increments that the government promised them withgreat pomp early into this pandemic? What happened to the insurance cover thatwas announced?
Goa has gone through a disastrous Covid spellwith casualties and positive cases showing a drastic increase. The healthworkers, despite fatigue and stress, have held on and endured it all. Now thatthere is a slight hiatus, if at all the numbers are real, the government can'tslam the doors on these warriors. They need to be treated well because of theselfless service they have put in. Above all, they deserve that respect becausethey have earned it.
