Chemists seek insurance on a par with other health workers
NEW DELHI: The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) has demanded an insurance cover from the government, stating that chemists face the risk of getting infected as they are at the forefront of the fight against Covid-19.
In a letter written to the Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the AIOCD demanded insurance coverage for its 8.5 lakh chemists and druggists operating in the country. The AIOCD said its members have been working day and night during the lockdown to ensure medicines are supplied to the needy, but their work has not been been recognised.
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Recognition
Some of its members tested positive for Covid-19 during the period and even succumbed to death.“It is a different matter that we are not being recognised by anyone so far,” the letter seen by ET said.
According to an AIOCD member, 10 chemists have been found to be Covid-19 positive and two died due to Covid-19. “The healthcare workers like doctors, nurses have all been provided with insurance cover. We are in touch with the entire community without any protection cover. The government should provide insurance to our members too,” said the member, on the condition of anonymity.
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