India: 196 doctors on duty died to COVID-19 so far

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Saturday said 196 doctors in the country have succumbed to coronavirus so far.

In an official statement IMA said, "The nation has lost 196 doctors out of which 170 of them are above the age of 50 years, with general practitioners attributing 40 percent of it".

The top doctors' body sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's attention on this issue.

"The association demanded adequate care for doctors and their families. We need his (PM) attention and indulgence because of the rising concerns of the safety of doctors during this COVID crisis. An increasing number of doctors are getting infected and losing lives due to COVID," said R.V. Asokan, secretary-general of IMA.

"Of all the fatalities we recorded, the substantial number of them are General Practitioners. A significant proportion of the population consults them for fever and related symptoms. They remain the first point of contact and care. They also happen to spend quality time in consultation and practicing clinical medicine," Asokan added.

The IMA also said that the highest number of casualties was recorded from Tamil Nadu, where 43 doctors died due to the Coronavirus, followed by Maharashtra and Gujarat which recorded 23 deaths each.