Question : Emotional and Mental Well Being of the Doctors

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has ensured emotional and mental wellbeing of the doctors through mandatory counselling sessions;
(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, reasons therefor;
(c) whether the government is aware of an increase in contractual doctors in hospitals with COVID-19 wards, if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government has fixed minimum wages for doctors working in COVID-19 wards, if so, the details thereof and if not the reasons therefor; and
(e) whether the Government has ensured adequate remuneration to healthcare professionals who are working for more hours than usual and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) & (b): Anticipating the impact COVID-19 may have on the mental health of the people, including doctors, the Department of Health and Family Welfare, through National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, setup a 24/7 Helpline in March, 2020 itself, to provide professional psychosocial support, to those in need. The said psychosocial support targeted different groups, namely, children, adult, elderly, women and healthcare workers. The counselling services through this Helpline are being provided 24/7 in nine different languages. As per the report of NIMHANS, Bengaluru, 13,451 calls were received from healthcare workers upto July, 2021. In addition, NIMHANS, Bengaluru, has also issued detailed guidelines for the Hospitals for “Mental Health in the times of COVID-19 Pandemic - Guidance for General Medical and Specialized Mental Health Care Settings”.

(c) to (e): Health is a State subject. The primary responsibility of engagement of different categories of healthcare workers including Doctors, and terms and conditions for such engagement, including wages/ remuneration and working hours is of States/ UTs. Central Government, on its part, supplements the efforts of States/ UTs and extends financial support towards wages of different categories of healthcare workers including Doctors under different Schemes like National Health Mission (NHM). Further, in order to augment the availability of trained human resources to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the Department has issued advisory on 3rd May, 2021. The advisory may be accessed at – https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/LettertoStatesUTsonHealthWorkForce.pdf.

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