"Protect & Safeguard First Line Warriors": Plea In SC Seeks Comprehensive Policy Framework For Healthcare Workers

Supreme Court will hear tomorrow a PIL seeking direction for formulation of a comprehensive policy for welfare & safety of healthcare workers, particularly nurses, who are at the frontline of the COVID outbreak response.Indian Nurses Professional Association which is a society having the primary objective of unifying, organising and empowering nurses across the country, has preferred. Supreme Court will hear tomorrow a PIL seeking direction for formulation of a comprehensive policy for welfare & safety of healthcare workers, particularly nurses, who are at the frontline of the COVID outbreak response. Various issues that the nurses have faced while working at the front line have also been emphasised such as harassment at work as well as: "1) Shortage of normal mask, N-95 mask & gloves; 2) No Demonstration of doffmg and donning procedures in the ward; 3) Shortage of Proper PPE according to the size to be provided {Zip Type) including slippers; 4) Duty doctors are not made available in the wards round the clock; 5) Hourly disinfection spray is not being done in the wards; 6) Tympanic thermometers are not provided at the working area; 7) Biohazard waste bins are not being provided in the wards; 8) Basic provisional accessories like soap, towels, toothbrushes, are not provided to the patients; 9) There is no proper supply of water and electricity in the wards; 10) No proper food supply, no person to distribute food for the patient inside; 11) Infection control measures be taught to the daily wage workers and I. P patients; 12) Security be available round the ciock disallowing patients from coming out of the wards; 13) Extra duty can be mentally and physically exhausting and for the same extra staff nurses be deputed; 14) Sanitizers must be provided near the entrance and exit of the doors and one near each bedside; 15) Facilities of hand washing with elbow taps have to be provided. Apropos this, the petitioner lays down the comprehensive policy must include the following in order to effectuate their protection and safety:- 1) Proper transport amenities and security; 2) Providing proper accomodation & essentials; 3) Prohibition on Landlords and owners from evicting healthcare workers owing to their misapprehensions of Healthcare workers being vectors of the deadly virus; 4) Relaxation of EMI payments on loans availed by the healthcare workers; 5) Special leaves to pregnant women, to prevent increase in the number of new cases; 6) Directions to landlords to relax their scheduled rent payment; 7) Free treatment for health care workers and their relatives in case of covid infections; 8) Do away with biometric punching systems; 9) Infection control be taught to all; 10) Uninterrupted round the clock security; 11) Deputation of extra nurse staff to avoid fatigue; 12) Providing sanitizers at every entrance and exit of doors in hospitals; 13) Facilitiies of hand washing with elbow taps be provided; 14) Provide insurance cover to frontline health wrokers - sanitation staff, paramedics, nurses & doctors.