Coronavirus crisis | More than 38,000 doctors come on board as volunteers

In the fight against the coronavirus pandemic in India, more than 38,000 doctors among whom include those from the Armed Forces Medical Services, have now come on board as volunteers to help the government. The Centre had appealed to doctors across the nation including those in retirementt to step forward in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak.

An official issued a statement saying, "38,162 volunteer doctors, including retired government, Armed Forces Medical Services, public sector undertaking or private doctors have signed up with the government to battle COVID-19 pandemic,". The official also stated that the list of these doctors has already been sent to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) by the government's think tank, Niti Aayog.

On March 25, Niti Aayog on their website had appealed to all to come forward in contributing to the noble mission saying those interested can register through a link that was provided. The statement read, "The Government of India requests for volunteer doctors who are fit and willing to be available for providing their services in the public health facilities and the training hospitals in the near future. We appeal to such doctors to come forward at this hour of need. You could also be a retired government, Armed Forces Medical Services, public sector undertaking or a private doctor,".

The government has said that public health facilities across the nation will face a heavy influx of patients during such an outbreak and many countries including the US, the UK, Italy and Vietnam, had also urged medical officials and health workers in retirement to come back to work and aid those in need of their valuable support.