GNCTD permits MBBS students, interns, BDS doctors to assist doctors on COVID duty

Also finalises shift-wise honorariums

The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) has issued an order to the directors of all COVID hospitals of Government of NCT Delhi, permitting them to engage fourth and fifth year MBBS students, interns and BDS doctors to assist doctors on COVID duty. It has also finalised shift-wise honorariums to be paid.

“In view of COVID–19 pandemic and increased demand of ICU beds and medical HR in the hospitals of GNCTD Delhi for management of COVID–19, all MDs/ Directors of COVID hospitals of GNCTD are permitted to engage fourth and fifth year MBBS students, interns, and BDS pass doctors to assist the duty doctors at the honorarium of Rs 1000 (8 hour shift) and Rs 2000 (12 hour shift) per day. It is an exercising powers delegated to them under the section 50 of Disaster Management Act. This would be in case of interns, the honorarium would be over and above their stipend,” stated the order issued by GNCTD.

Prof Bejon Misra, Founder Director, Patient Safety and Access, commented, “It is a great initiative to encourage MBBS students to earn while they learn and (get) exposure to clinical practices. However, we should also encourage students from PharmD and AYUSH stream to get inducted into clinical practices and make them integrated into public health to enable a better patient medical practitioner ratio. Why (are) such circulars only due to COVID-19? It should be a policy in our country for all the time as prevailing in other countries. There is an urgent need to revisit the existing course curriculum of all the sciences linked to healthcare delivery system to get integrated and made at par with clinical studies and exposure to public health”.

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