Supreme Court defends doctors, warns society will not forgive if judiciary fails to protect them
New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Tuesday made a strong observation in defence of the medical fraternity, stating that “if the judiciary does not stand by doctors, society will never forgive us.”
A bench comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and R. Mahadevan made the remark while hearing a petition concerning the exclusion of private doctors who died during the COVID-19 pandemic from insurance coverage under various government schemes.
The bench took serious exception to public criticism that private doctors worked only for money during the pandemic. “Such remarks are extremely unfair. Doctors risked their lives in one of the most difficult times this country has faced. Many of them continued to treat patients at great personal risk. The judiciary cannot ignore their sacrifice,” the court said.
The petitioners contended that while doctors in government service were covered under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Insurance Scheme, their counterparts in private practice — who also treated COVID patients and many of whom died due to infection — were left out of the benefit.
Responding to the plea, the apex court directed the Union Government to furnish details of all insurance and compensation schemes applicable to healthcare workers who lost their lives during the pandemic. “The Centre should specify what other schemes, besides the Pradhan Mantri policy, were in force and which categories of medical workers were eligible,” the court said.
The bench further remarked that it would issue guidelines to enable families of deceased doctors to claim insurance benefits based on existing schemes. “It will then be for the insurance companies to process claims and issue orders in accordance with our judgment,” the court added, reserving its verdict after completing the hearing.
The case has drawn wide attention from the medical community, which has long demanded equal recognition and compensation for private healthcare workers who served during the pandemic.
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