Junior doctors of various colleges under the banner of the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), an association of medical professionals, are an anguished lot during the Covid-19 pandemic. Reason? They are unhappy  at the preferential treatment given to the VIPs while members of the medical fraternity and the common man suffer in want of timely medical facilities.

The FAIMA also alleged that several politicians have been calling their members to their residence for check-ups and testing.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, they minced no words as they noted that there are separate VIP counters at several Centre-run Government hospitals that offer Covid testing only to politicians and ministers.

“But doctors have no separate counter for testing,” as per the letter which is signed by FAIMA President Dr Rakesh Bagdi, Vice-President Dr Amarnath Yadav and General Secretary Dr Subrankar Datta.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) too have taken up the FAIMA’s cause, seeking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention.

In its separate letter addressed to PM Modi, the IMA said: “The working doctors are anguished at the undue stress due this VIP culture and preferential treatment for politicians, bureaucrats, party workers etc and decreasing morale of many frontline workers.”

In the letter signed by IMA national president Dr J.A. Jayalal and honorary secretary-general Dr Jayesh M. Lele, the IMA has urged the PM to “direct officials and streamline this at the earliest and prevent burn out of front line workers”

The FAIMA’s letter highlights that how doctors are at the forefront of the Covid-19 pandemic and yet have no facilities available when they test positive for the virus.

“…we wish to inform you that doctors being at the forefront of the epidemic are risking their own lives but what we receive in return is standing in long queues for Covid testing, no bed or ICU availability when tested positive for our own self,” it read.

The association added that “priority is being given to all the so called politicians and party workers who have actually held rallies and increased the spread of virus”.

 “Majority of the politicians call doctors at their residence which has no legal order from the medical Superintendent but is carried out informally,” the letter also pointed out.

For this, it added, they call on doctors working in Government hospitals, which in turn further reduces and limits the medical manpower available.

Therefore, the association strongly opposed the prevalence of this VIP culture and urged the Prime Minister to “look into the matter seriously”.