Mitigating Healthcare Workforce Shortage during COVID-19: Indian Context

Health Workforce Shortage for Covid 19

Abstract

Increasing COVID-19 cases have put an unprecedented strain on the global and national healthcare systems. Higher risk of COVID-19 among the serving healthcare staff worsens the situation. We conducted a review of international and national guidelines, to address the key concerns regarding healthcare workers serving during the COVID-19 outbreak in Indian context. A few guidelines have pioneered in minimization of exposure risk, by limiting the working hours of healthcare staff serving in COVID wards. Nevertheless, in most settings’ exposure is foreseen. These exposures range from low to high-risk, based on – procedure conducted, use of personal protective equipment (PPE) as recommended, duration and proximity of contact. While low-risk exposures suffice self-monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms and do not require work restriction; high-risk-exposed are generally restricted from work for 14 days. Testing is mandated in symptomatic cases. Indian guidelines additionally suggest testing of high-risk asymptomatic staff. Certain international guidelines suggest a more liberal approach towards re-entry of exposed and infected staff, should there be a severe crisis of staff serving in COVID areas. Adequate testing capacity and PPE are indispensable assets in dealing with staff shortages. Guidelines released at central government level are a standard in most national settings. Additionally, many states have laid their own set of protocols. With the government dividing the landscape into ‘zones’ as per the current discourse of epidemic, it may help health systems at more disaggregated levels to study the range of management options and opt accordingly.