Akangjungla
One of the professions that find mention in the earliest records of human history is a doctor. Considered to be the noblest profession, doctors are regarded as life savers. Every year, the Indian Medical Association celebrates July 1 as National Doctors’ Day to mark the birthday of Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, a renowned physician, freedom fighter and former chief minister of West Bengal. Most importantly, Dr Bidhan was instrumental in establishment of the Medical Council of India (MCI) and the Indian Medical Association (IMA).
With the entire world, reeling under the novel Coronavirus pandemic since December 2019, this day holds even more significance. The day has once again reminded people about the contributions made by doctors and healthcare workers across the world.
Considering the fact that doctors are called to perform their duty in the Personal Protective Equipment for long hours, treating patients despite the risk of getting infected, dealing with low staffing and inadequate medial infrastructures, bearing the rage and frustration from the patients, not forgetting the family duty aspects, the pandemic has not been easy on doctors.
Rightly considered as the ‘high-risk group’, doctors have been fighting the crisis from the frontlines saving lives at the cost of their own. According to the Indian Medical Association state-wise registry of doctors who have died of COVID-19, more than 1500 doctors have succumbed to the virus to date. Last year, the toll was around 754 and another 800 have added up in the data. Thus, the Indian Medical Association aptly observed the National Doctors’ Day 2021 under the theme ‘Save the Saviours’.
It is not simply out of obligations or duty bound for doctors to endure hardships. They are driven by the “promises” to consecrate their lives to service of humanity, maintain the utmost respect for human life from the time of conception and not to permit considerations of religion, nationality, race, party politics or social standing to intervene between their duty and the patient. They are determined to practice their profession with “conscience and dignity” and always put the health of the patient as their “first consideration.” They are motivated to treat co-colleagues with “all respect and dignity” and to maintain by all means in power, “the honour and noble traditions of medical profession.”
Keeping in mind that the second wave of COVID-19 was much infectious; the overwhelming burden of the pandemic has resulted in more challenges for doctors. At their levels, as doctors continue to prepare themselves everyday to be on the frontline to serve their best responsibilities, constant love and relentless support of the patients and the people can inspire and encourage them to rise above these tough and very difficult times.
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