Sunit Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, March 24

The tweet of a junior resident doctor of Rohtak PGIMS on unavailability of N95 masks and gloves at the institute despite the threat of Covid spread has gone viral on social media, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi endorsing it and thousands of other Internet-users liking and retweeting it.

Dr Kamna Kakkar, a student of MD (anaesthesia) course and junior resident doctor at the institute, had tweeted “When they arrive, please send N95 masks and gloves to my grave. Taali aur thaali bhi baja dena waha! Regards, frustrated sarkari doctor.” The doctor tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij and other senior government functionaries. The tweet went viral within a few hours. However, the account from which the tweet was posted was deleted on Tuesday evening.

Extending support to the young doctor, Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “I am feeling sad, because this was completely avoidable. We had time to prepare. We should have taken this threat much more seriously and have been much better prepared.”

On being contacted for his comments on this, PGIMS Nodal Officer for control and management of Covid pandemic, Prof (Dr) Dhruv Chaudhary, said masks and other protective gear were being provided to doctors, paramedical staffers and other employees as per protocol and availability.

Doctors serving at the PGIMS have been complaining of unavailability of masks, while authorities — including PGIMS Director Dr Rohtash K Yadav — have been maintaining that there was no shortage of masks or sanitisers. Yesterday, several doctors posted at the PGIMS Trauma Centre had refused to treat the patients, maintaining they would not work until they were given N95 masks for protection against Covid. Emergency services resumed after personal intervention of senior functionaries of the institute.

PGIMS Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr Sandeep, who looks after the Emergency wing, said some doctors of the Surgery and Orthopaedic Surgery Departments had stopped work and demanded N95 masks, though three-layered masks were being provided to doctors as per protocol. “N95 masks are required only in intensive-care units, operation theatres and isolation wards. The protesting doctors were convinced, after which they relented and resumed work,” he said.