IT News
Imphal, July 1:
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Manipur Branch, in a press release expressed strong resentment over the office memorandum issued by the Principal Secretary (Health & FW), Govt. of Manipur on 29th June whereby doctors and health workers involved in treatment of Covid-19 patients in hospitals are required to undergo mandatory quarantine after their duty period and also to avail paid quarantine at designated hotels on self payment basis. The association had asked for revoking the said order immediately as it seems to undermine the dedication and commitment of the Covid-19 frontline health workers, who are doing a selfless act of fighting a pandemic of global scale. This Office memorandum comes at a time when other state govts. are making arrangements for free quarantine of the front line health workers even in 5 star hotels. This disparity in treatment would surely act as dampener to the enthusiasm of health workers of the state.
The proposed system of self paid quarantine of Covid-19 frontline workers has been questioned by certain sections of the society. Khuraijam Athouba, General Secretary, United Committee Manipur (UCM) is his Facebook post has termed the order as not only abusive but discriminatory to the health care community by the Govt. concern department. “While the Govt. is spending crores of rupees to those…returnees, paying their travel fare, fooding and lodging fees at quarantine centres, sanitization works etc. The same Govt. wants to make doctors pay their quarantine fees, that to for performing the duty of curing the same people sponsored by the same Govt.” – he said.
