From the Frontline: Underpaid, overworked and now pushed to the limit

Talked about little in the fight against Covid-19 is the condition of nursing staff

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic in India, while the government has urged citizens to beat thalis and showered flower petals from helicopters to honour the healthcare fraternity’s critical role, a cruel irony has been playing out on the ground. The pandemic has highlighted the long-simmering problems of India’s overworked yet underpaid nurses, estimated to number about 1.8 million. Not only do they have to contend with old issues such as the systemic indifference of hospitals, salary structures not commensurate with their training, and power struggles with doctors, working on the frontlines has thrown up a new set of challenges. Consider these