COVID-19 has so far claimed the lives of 162 doctors, 107 nurses and 44 ASHA workers in the country, Rajya Sabha was told on 2 February.

The figures are based on the intimations received from the states till January 22. This was stated by the Minister of State for Health in the House in response to a question on the number of healthcare staff, including doctors, nurses and ASHA workers who have been affected died due to COVID-19. On whether the data presented by the Indian Medical Association regarding the number of healthcare workers who have died due to COVID-19 has been taken note of by the Ministry and any follow up verification of the same done, he said the process of insurance disbursement has been de-centralized under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP: Insurance Scheme). Accordingly, the verification of a person affected and died to COVID-19 vests with state governments/Central government authorities concerned.

The necessary certification for claims is done by healthcare Institution, organization or office where the deceased was an employee of/engaged by the institution. They submit the documents to the competent authority for state and UT, or the competent authority for Central Government, Central Autonomous /PSU hospitals, AIIMS, INIs and hospitals of other central ministries, as the case may be. The competent authorities then forward and submit claim to the insurance company.