Doctors and nurses summoned to Chennai to aid in Covid-19 fight

Madurai: As many as 200 postgraduate (PG) doctors and 50 newly-appointed nurses from various southern districts have set off to Chennai, the Covid-19 hotspot in the state, in order to deal with the emergency situation. Though there are no concerns of shortage in medical staff in southern districts, including Madurai, if the cases increase, the doctors may be required to return to work back here.

President of the Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association, Dr K Senthil said 180 PGs from the Madurai Medical College and the remaining from government medical colleges were summoned to Chennai in a communication received on June 11.

“Almost all of them reached Chennai by 4pm the next day, using their own vehicles by and carpooling, to deal with the emergency. The doctors co-operated as it was necessary to move workforce to areas where there is a shortage,” he said.

“As of now, this mobilisation of PG doctors would not be a problem for hospitals like the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai, but as the next 10 days are crucial and Covid-19 cases are expected to peak, we would definitely need more hands,” Senthil said. He also said that they had not witnessed any issue of doctors or nurses, refusing to come to work out of fear.

Meanwhile, 50 nurses from Madurai, Virudhunagar, Theni, Ramanathapuram and Dindigul districts, who were among the additional 2,000 nurses, recently appointed by the state government on a temporary basis, left for Chennai early on Monday. The nurses left by a special bus arranged by the Madurai Medical College.

The nurses will report for work in government hospitals at Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Thiruvallur. However, so far, no nurse already employed in government institutions in Madurai district has been deputed to work in Chennai and nearby districts.