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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In yet another serious breach of privacy of individuals, the government has published the list of 39 doctors along with their health issues against their names, whose services were abruptly terminated from Vayomithram project run by the Kerala social security mission (KSSM), citing that they are senior citizens and are more susceptible to Covid-19.
The order issued by the KSSM has disclosed the details of the diseases they are suffering from, in addition to their age and the unit they are working. The order and the list (accessed by TOI) are now widely being circulated on social media.
The order terminating their services says that in the wake of increasing cases of Covid-19 in the state, the government has advised senior citizens to be confined to their homes. This advisory is applicable to the doctors employed in the Vayomithram project and are above 60 years of age as well. The absence of these doctors will lead to shortage of medical officers, and therefore the services of 39 doctors are terminated from the project, the order issued by KSSM executive director Mohammed Asheel said.
The annexure of the order lists out the names of the doctors, the Vayomithram unit they are working in, their age and their health issues like diabetes, cardiac problems, cancer, cholesterol, hypertension, etc. Some of the doctors in the list received the order through WhatsApp. The order issued on July 27 said that the services of doctors are being terminated from July 31.
“No notice was served to us and I received the termination order through WhatsApp. There are many doctors in the list with age-related issues. If all those are widely circulated among the public, it will adversely affect our privacy and our profession,” said a doctor in the list, whose name is being withheld by TOI for reasons of privacy.
Indian Medical Association slammed the way the order has been drafted and circulated. “It is nothing but a blatant breach of privacy that the health details of doctors are being made public. Even if it is being circulated among one’s own team members, it is not acceptable. The list is widely being circulated in all the doctors’ groups. IMA has already received many complaints,” IMA state president Abraham Varghese said.
Meanwhile, the KSSM said that it was only for circulation among the mission officials. “Including their health details along with the list was not deliberately done and it is meant for official purpose and not for outside circulation. We hope there is no dispute regarding the spirit of the order,” Asheel said.
The order issued by the KSSM has disclosed the details of the diseases they are suffering from, in addition to their age and the unit they are working. The order and the list (accessed by TOI) are now widely being circulated on social media.
The order terminating their services says that in the wake of increasing cases of Covid-19 in the state, the government has advised senior citizens to be confined to their homes. This advisory is applicable to the doctors employed in the Vayomithram project and are above 60 years of age as well. The absence of these doctors will lead to shortage of medical officers, and therefore the services of 39 doctors are terminated from the project, the order issued by KSSM executive director Mohammed Asheel said.
The annexure of the order lists out the names of the doctors, the Vayomithram unit they are working in, their age and their health issues like diabetes, cardiac problems, cancer, cholesterol, hypertension, etc. Some of the doctors in the list received the order through WhatsApp. The order issued on July 27 said that the services of doctors are being terminated from July 31.
“No notice was served to us and I received the termination order through WhatsApp. There are many doctors in the list with age-related issues. If all those are widely circulated among the public, it will adversely affect our privacy and our profession,” said a doctor in the list, whose name is being withheld by TOI for reasons of privacy.
Indian Medical Association slammed the way the order has been drafted and circulated. “It is nothing but a blatant breach of privacy that the health details of doctors are being made public. Even if it is being circulated among one’s own team members, it is not acceptable. The list is widely being circulated in all the doctors’ groups. IMA has already received many complaints,” IMA state president Abraham Varghese said.
Meanwhile, the KSSM said that it was only for circulation among the mission officials. “Including their health details along with the list was not deliberately done and it is meant for official purpose and not for outside circulation. We hope there is no dispute regarding the spirit of the order,” Asheel said.
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