COVID-19 surge: Bihar, U.P., Delhi top list of deaths among doctors in second wave, says IMA

We have lost 244 doctors in a short period compared to 730 last year, says Indian Medical Association

Doctors attend to a patient at a 50-bed COVID-19 care centre at a stadium in Noida, Uttar Pradesh on May 16, 2021.

Bihar recorded the highest number of doctors — 69 — who died due to COVID-19 in the second wave so far followed by Uttar Pradesh (34) and Delhi (27).

According to the Indian Medical Association (IMA) registry, 244 deaths have been recorded in the second wave with the youngest physician who died being Dr. Anas Mijahid, 25, from Delhi.

Coronavirus updates — May 17, 2021

“While last year we lost nearly 730 doctors across India, this year in a short period of time we have lost 244 doctors. The second wave is proving extremely fatal for all and especially those at the forefront of the battle. We have to actively increase vaccination cover among the medical staff to ensure that they have protection against the virus,’’ said IMA president J.A. Jayalal.

The following are the figures of fatalities according to the IMA registry: Andhra Pradesh (21), Telangana (19), Maharashtra (13), Tamil Nadu (10), Karnataka and Odisha (8 each), Madhya Pradesh (5), Chhattisgarh and Jammu and Kashmir (3 each), Assam, Gujarat, Haryana and Kerala (2 each) and Goa (1).

The Health Ministry on Monday said the Central government has so far provided more than 20 crore vaccine doses (20,76,10,230) to States/UTs, free of cost. Of this, the total consumption, calculated based on average up to May 16 including wastages, is 18,71,13,705 doses (as per data available at 8 a.m. on Monday).