The Indian Medical Association's initial findings have revealed that 93 doctors have died while on Covid-19 duty in India.

In an exclusive interview to India Today, Dr. Rajan Sharma, head of IMA, revealed that as per the latest count, 93 doctors have died so far, while 1,279 doctors have been infected."

At least 771 doctors less than the age of 35 years, 247 doctors above the age of 35 years and 261 doctors above 50 years have been infected so far, the IMA chief said. This figure does not include healthcare workers such as nurses and other healthcare-related staff.

"We are working on a research paper of causes of these deaths, and how many have died in general practice, resident category very soon. IMA will come out with all figures and reasons behind this. We are not hiding from revealing this data," Dr. Rajan Sharma said.

Dr. Sharma confirmed that these figures have been "collated by IMA when presented with data collated by Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, who is the president of the Kochi branch of IMA in Kerala".

Dr. Jayadevan claimed that 110 doctors lost their lives. His data comes from news that has been reported by publications both local and national. He also said he is collating data of nurses and other healthcare workers.

Dr. Jayadevan, in an exclusive interview with India Today, said that the report is his personal work and does not reflect the opinion of the IMA.

"I collected the information as a tribute to doctors, nurses and healthcare staff across India who have been working in the pandemic and lost their lives, it was a report titled ‘100 Doctor Deaths in India during the times of COVID. Lessons, and a tribute’,” Dr. Jayadevan said.

"I have tried my best to exclude those where the virus affected their lungs or their immunity and it killed them. Many were working amongst COVID patients and died and these deaths were attributed to Covid-19," he said.

In Maharashtra, the death figures were highest with 23 percent, followed by Tamil Nadu (16 percent), Gujarat (11 percent), Delhi (11 percent) and Uttar Pradesh (9 percent).

"At least, 55.5 percent of doctors who died were below 60, average age 56.3 years, 30 percent of doctor deaths were below 50 years, 21 percent were below 40 years. To my knowledge, there isn't any official publication by anyone on this. The pandemic is going to stay with us and we need to know,oday.in " Dr. Jayadevan said.

Dr. Jayadevan also said if one adds the healthcare workers, the total goes up to 136, of these eight were violent deaths and two died by suicides.

The average age of all violent deaths (suicide plus accident) is 27.8 years.

Story Source : www.indiatoday.in