Kolkata doctors protest after given raincoats as protective wear

KOLKATA: Desperate times have necessitated some desperate innovations but, on the ground, some of the intended beneficiaries have not been impressed.
The state health department, aware that it is woefully short of gloves and masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) for doctors and other healthcare workers, has started arming them with raincoats at some places, including the Medical College Hospital and the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Beliaghata.

The innovative approach to solve the problem has run into hot weather at both MCH and ID Hospital with doctors and healthcare workers. The ID Hospital is at the forefront of the fight against Covid-19 in Bengal and MCH has been earmarked as the state’s first speciality Covid-19 hospital.
Experts do not seem to have anything against the innovation. “There is no harm in using plastic raincoats since the material is a good one and offers sound protection against viral contamination,” said virologist Amitabha Nandy. “But raincoats must be tailored to ensure that they cover the neck and upper portion of the shoulders that tend to remain exposed in the conventional ones. More importantly, they must be discarded every 4-5 hours if they are being used indoors to treat Covid-19 patients or suspects.”
Clinics at government hos-pitals, where Covid-19 suspects are screened, are mainly run by junior doctors. Some of them have resented that they are having to don raincoats instead of proper PPE.
Doctors, especially at MCH, are apprehensive about their personal protection. “We are raring to go and realize that there is a scarcity of PPEs. But if even one of us is infected, it will be a blow to the morale of the healthcare fraternity. Most of the PPE components are available and garments manufacturing units can produce them, like they did in China. We appeal to corporate bodies in the city to come forward and make this happen,” said a doctor who is part of the Covid-19 team at MCH.
“PPEs are also made of plastic material but need to be very tough and thick. Given the scenario, we can improvise. Though not ideal, raincoats will provide some protection, since they are also made of plastic. But these should be made from thicker plastic,” said Bhaskar Narayan Chaudhury, a microbiologist at Peerless Hospital.
KK Aggarwal, president of the Confederation of Medical Association of Asia and Oceania (CMAOO), agreed. “Several countries are using innovations to fill the gap between demand and supply of PPEs. Since mid-February, Indonesia’s health workers, doctors and nurses have been working overtime to treat COVID-19 cases despite many of them having inadequate protection. Many of the medical workers wore only plastic raincoats modified to approximate hazmat suits,” he said.
Microbiologists suggested a surgical gown be worn underneath and the buttons of the raincoats be stitched at the back. The surgical gowns should be disinfected with either sodium hyprochloride or bleaching power solution before it goes to the laundry.
“Raincoats are no substitute for PPEs. But, given the scenario, options are too few. The raincoats should at least be of quality and proper size to ensure maximum protection,” said Sumon Poddar, microbiologist, Institute of Child Health.
Nandy, however, added that plastic raincoats should be seen as a stop-gap arrangement. “Also, other than raincoats that can be used as an alternative to protective suits, gloves, masks and face protection gear are more important. It must be ensured that all healthcare workers have enough of them,” said Nandy.
Others, like Narayana Health medic Kaushik Chaki, felt using raincoats violated the WHO guidelines on PPE and put doctors at great risk. “There are specific guidelines on the material of protective suits and their weight. You can’t ask doctors to wear raincoats while treating Covid-19 patients. If we get infected, the virus could be transmitted to hundreds of other patients across hospitals,” said Chaki.