Lucknow: 5 pharmacists died on corona duty, families still await relief

LUCKNOW: Pharmacist Rajesh Kumar Verma (50) died on Thursday evening due to Covid-19 at Hind Medical College after a few days of treatment. He was screening Covid suspected patients at the Suratganj community healthcare centre (CHC) of Barabanki.
The death of Verma created a flutter in the pharmacist community worried about his family’s survival.
Since four pharmacists have lost their lives earlier, the Federation of Govt Pharmacist Association UP wrote to the director general of medical & health on Thursday.
An April 11, 2020 government order (GO) said ex gratia sum of Rs 50 lakh will be provided to family of an employee who died of novel coronavirus infection involved in Covid management, prevention and treatment.
“Over three-and-a-half months have passed since the first pharmacist in Hathras died after contracting Covid-19 in June. Since then, four more pharmacists have lost their lives to Covid and none received compensation from government,” said president Suneel Kumar Yadav.
“These healthcare workers have left behind families who are struggling . We demand they be helped immediately with relief promised and that a timeline be fixed for the compensation procedural work,” added Yadav.
When TOI contacted DG medial & health, Major (retd) Dr DS Negi, he said, “All the applications I have received till date have been sent to the insurance company. Sometimes the insurance company has its own queries which cause some delay.”