"Protect & Safeguard First Line Warriors": Plea In SC Seeks Comprehensive Policy Framework For Healthcare Workers

Supreme Court will hear tomorrow a PIL seeking direction(s) for formulation of a comprehensive policy for welfare & safety of healthcare workers, particularly nurses, who are at the frontline of the COVID outbreak response.

Indian Nurses Professional Association which is a society having the primary objective of unifying, organising and empowering nurses across the country, has preferred the petition for protection of nurses and other healthcare workers as they are first line warriors, fighting a pandemic which has "threatened the very existen of human race". The petition has been drawn and filed by Advocate Jose Abraham.

Calling upon the Ministry of Labour & Employment for the same, the petitioner brings forth the alllged glaring inadequacies in policies for occupational safety and health of Health care workers. 

The petition also avers incidents showcasing this alleged inadequacy and highlights the plight of healthcare workers "who are exposed to infection in absence of proper safety".

".....till now, nine doctors working in different hospitals and clinics in the National Capital have tested positive for Covid-19. A large number of health care workers including nurses, doctors, and other staffers are infected in various states like Maharashtra, Kerala, Delhi etc. A large no. of nurses are under quarantine / isolation throughout the country and many of them are tested positive for Covid-19. In another shocking incident, Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbai has shut down and declared a containment zone after 26 nurses and three doctors tested positive for coronavirus in the last couple of days." the petition states.

Various issues that the nurses have faced while working at the front line have also been emphasised such as harassment at work as well as:

"1) Shortage of normal mask, N-95 mask & gloves;

2) No Demonstration of doffmg and donning procedures in the ward;

3) Shortage of Proper PPE according to the size to be provided {Zip Type) including slippers;

4) Duty doctors are not made available in the wards round the clock;

5) Hourly disinfection spray is not being done in the wards;

6) Tympanic thermometers are not provided at the working area;

7) Biohazard waste bins are not being provided in the wards;

8) Basic provisional accessories like soap, towels, toothbrushes, are not provided to the patients;

9) There is no proper supply of water and electricity in the wards;

10) No proper food supply, no person to distribute food for the patient inside;

11) Infection control measures be taught to the daily wage workers and I. P patients;

12) Security be available round the ciock disallowing patients from coming out of the wards;

13) Extra duty can be mentally and physically exhausting and for the same extra staff nurses be deputed;

14) Sanitizers must be provided near the entrance and exit of the doors and one near each bedside;

15) Facilities of hand washing with elbow taps have to be provided. Hot water provision for ward use and patients have to be done;

16) Isolation precautions are not being followed as per the WHO norms."

In this backdrop, the petition asserts that there is a dire need for the Court to intervene effectively and that the need for formulation of a comprehensive framework to protect healthcare workers is imperative.

Apropos this, the petitioner lays down the comprehensive policy must include the following in order to effectuate their protection and safety:-

1) Proper transport amenities and security;

2) Providing proper accomodation & essentials;

3) Prohibition on Landlords and owners from evicting healthcare workers owing to their misapprehensions of Healthcare workers being vectors of the deadly virus;

4) Relaxation of EMI payments on loans availed by the healthcare workers;

5) Special leaves to pregnant women, to prevent increase in the number of new cases;

6) Directions to landlords to relax their scheduled rent payment;

7) Free treatment for health care workers and their relatives in case of covid infections;

8) Do away with biometric punching systems;

9) Infection control be taught to all;

10) Uninterrupted round the clock security;

11) Deputation of extra nurse staff to avoid fatigue;

12) Providing sanitizers at every entrance and exit of doors in hospitals;

13) Facilitiies of hand washing with elbow taps be provided;

14) Provide insurance cover to frontline health wrokers - sanitation staff, paramedics, nurses & doctors.

Click Here To Read Petition