With no food, water and salary the COVID Warrior Doctors are left in the lurch by BMC

The MCGM has absorbed half a dozen of COVID warrior doctors in Mulund for fight against coronavirus are unpaid for three-four months and have not issued order letters of appointments also. The city civic body authorities threaten them to expel them if they raise voice against non-availability of food, water and proper-accommodation.

Mumbai: After the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray appealed to medical professionals to participate as ‘COVID YODDHAS’ (COVID WARRIOR) to combat novel coronavirus outbreak, the half a dozen of medical professionals from Mulund are absorbed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) hospitals.

In their early 20s, the doctors have joined thinking that they can serve the patients and gain experience from the pandemic crisis of management of patients of corona. However, from the last three-four months, they have not received the ‘order letter of their appointments’ from the BMC officials.

The COVID WARRIOR doctors are staying in a deserted place where they live-in fear even in the day-time as the glasses on windows are transparent and the onlookers gawk at them continuously. The BMC has not arranged for the security of these doctors.

TheNEWS21 personally visited their hostel in Mulund and talked with them in detail as they cannot come on record due to threat by the senior authorities. Earlier these COVID WARRIOR doctors had written a letter to the Leader of Opposition Pravin Darekar however they are still waiting for his response.

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“The BMC has not given the official order letter, thus we are at the mercy of them. Accordingly, our salaries are on hold for more than two-months. We are constantly working and serving in the COVID ward and serving patients without proper facilities and infrastructure at the risk of our lives. We are mentally and physically drained now. They are not giving travelling allowance as per the state government all should get Rs.300 for healthcare person working under COVID. Despite asking they have been denying us this but have been giving the same to other senior doctors and officials of BMC. They have been exploiting the juniors like us for no reason,” said the doctor

The doctors describe that they stay far and it costs them about Rs70 to reach the BMC hospital and they cannot afford as they do not have any money left with them. Thus, the authorities force them to travel in the same ambulance used for COVID patients.

“I am the only breadwinner of my family. I cannot live this job also and can do nothing about the present condition. The accommodation provided by them is in a deserted area and at the outskirts of Mulund. In the day or night men, onlookers stare at us and we are so helpless,” added another one.

The one-room kitchen of the MCGM building of these COVID WARRIORS has a two-small sized bed with no bed-sheets or any quilt or pillow. There is no water for drinking available other than the bathroom.

“The food was initially arranged for a day or two but later BMC stopped it. We are tortured for food and water also by these people. How do they expect us to live with no food and water in this deserted place and without any salary,” asked the doctor?