National Doctors' Day: Mumbai doctors reflect on pandemic year trials, lessons, and the likely third wave

The joy of being a doctor and curing people is also what helped Banka remain hopeful. The respiratory physician found comfort in the old adage ‘this too shall pass’. “The hope and joy of helping patients recover, to see them go back to their families is what motivates me. At the same time, learning to evolve myself as a person and a doctor completes me as an individual,” she adds. 

While Agrawal and Banka found confidence in medicine, Subramani has found hope in her friends and family. They were wishing and praying for her during the time, though they understood that she was at risk of contracting the virus at any time. She adds, “My mother would always insist that I read this Bible verse of Psalms 91. It was my faith in God which brought me solace.” 

It wasn’t easy for senior paediatric surgeon Dr Ketan Parikh, whose practice came to a complete standstill in 2020, as many patients, who were from out of town weren’t able to travel to the city. He opines that through all this, the doctors have been tested, but it was most difficult seeing patients go without timely care. So, he decided to do something about it and launched PyraMed, a doctor-to-doctor telemedicine platform. “I wanted to bridge the rural-urban inequity in healthcare. Partnering with paediatricians in non-metro areas, patients can connect with a paediatric specialist, getting all the benefits of an in-person consultation, locally.” It was also this initiative, to help patients with fewer resources to be able to access quality care, which kept him positive during this time. 

Preparing for the third wave
Now as the second wave seems to have subsided, doctors are already preparing for the third wave. However, they can’t do it alone and are pleading that people take the necessary precautions. 

“We need to realise that the only way to curb this pandemic is by taking necessary precautions. If we do not take the necessary precautions, we are only going to propagate the pandemic and also put our loved ones at risk,” Banka expresses. Agrawal iterates Banka’s need for precaution and Covid-appropriate behaviour after experiencing the effect of the pandemic in the last year. Ahead of the third wave, he reminds patients to not panic and if one does experience a symptom, it is best to isolate and seek timely medical intervention. 

Amidst discussions of the third wave affecting children, Parikh, who has been practising for 36 years, says parents need to be cautious and immediately start limiting their children’s exposure. He adds, “Even paediatricians need to prepare themselves. Some were caught off-guard during the second wave as they could not deal with complexities of the virus. Navigating COVID-19 is a team sport and they should not hesitate to reach out to child Covid care specialists for an opinion when required.” 

While Banka, Agrawal and Parikh have years in the field which will help them deal with the third wave, Subramani is going to rely on her experience of the last one year. “I have been preparing myself mentally to have a sound balance between my clinical judgment and maximise benefits of patients with available healthcare resources,” says the doctor, who echoes the voices of several others who started their practice during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Also Read: 'Poor planning of the vaccination drive has left Indians more vulnerable to the virus’

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