Close to 1.5 lakh Ayush doctors have been called to join the COVID-19 medical team in Maharashtra to provide assistance to them during the pandemic. Ayush is the acronym of medical systems locally practised in India which are Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy.
Thursday onwards, the doctors started their online training programme in COVID-19 care to procure certificates and be qualified as per the guidelines of the State Health Department. Along with this, the health ministry has also sent a notice to Government Dental College, Fort, and asked them to provide their services during this emergency.
As per the Maharashtra Medical Council data, there are currently above 20,000 registered allopathy doctors in Mumbai. However, if the situation deteriorates in Mumbai which is home to close to 1.84 crore people, the ministry will require additional help from Ayush doctors and dentists. Mumbai is currently the hotspot for coronavirus as it is the worst-hit city in Maharashtra.
“Ayush doctors have years of experience in handling patients. These doctors may not be directly involved in providing treatment to patients on ventilators but can take care of patients in mild and moderate categories,” said Kuldeep Kohli, director of Ayush, Maharashtra told HT.
Meanwhile, only qualified Ayush doctors will be allowed to take care of patients. The doctors will have to attend an online curriculum designed by All India Institute of Medical Sciences to gain basic knowledge about COVID-19 treatment. Once the curriculum is completed, the Ayush doctors will have to appear for an online examination to procure their qualification certificate.
The government had also planned to call upon retired doctors to provide helping hands in treating the patients. But a section of doctors has raised concerns about it. Their primary concern is that people between the age group of 60-80 are most vulnerable to the infection and this could put their lives in danger.
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