Team Herald
MARGAO: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Goa on Thursday urged the entire society of Goa and press/media to avoid causing social stigma against doctors or anybody who is found positive for COVID-19.
The doctors have requested the people and the press/media to respect doctors’ privacy and trust them in their work.
They held a press conference after a section of the media reported the cases of doctors being tested positive as their “negligence”, which has “demonised and stigmatised” the entire fraternity.
The doctors advised the media and the people to go by the official report of the Health Secretary.
Informing that he couldn’t hug his daughter goodbye because of the fear of spreading infection, an emotional Dr Shekhar Salkar said, “95 to 98 per cent patients in Goa are asymptomatic and cases can crop up in anyone’s house now. It is painful to hear the word medical negligence it can be an error of judgement. Our state is bad and we are working in a stressful condition and infections tend to happen in this environment”.
IMA member Dr Shivram Dhakankar said, “COVID-19 is not the only disease that the doctors handle. This is a misunderstanding that is being spread that the patient meets the doctors and the doctor spreads. We request the government to give us a facility to test to ensure that the doctor and patients are safe before they come for any intervention”.
Dr Babita Angle said, “No use of stigmatising as it is our war too as much as people’s”.
“I request the government to allow the private sector to do COVID testing. We are unable as ICMR guidelines are contradicting. The hospitals have 25 percent less staff due to self-styled lockdowns and containment zones,” Dr Sujoy Das said.
The doctors said they had a choice to keep clinics shut, but many have chosen to keep their clinics open to serve the public.
“We don’t expect flower petals to be showered, but we need dignity. Respect doctors’ privacy and trust us,” said an IMA member.
Dr Salkar has urged the government to form a doctors’ committee in IMA and include them in decision making. He said, “We have seen from far, can suggest some things to fight the virus spread.”
