The Maharashtra government has extended Rs. 50 lakh insurance cover to private doctors who die of coronavirus infection during the pandemic, an official said on August 21.

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In a circular issued on August 20, director of state Health Services Dr. Sadhana Tayde said the insurance cover, which is being given to doctors in government and semi- government services, has now been extended to private medical practitioners who succumb to the infection. Referring to a letter dated April 9 about the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package - Insurance Scheme for health workers fighting COVID-19, she said the provisions of the same be followed for private doctors as well. Welcoming the move, president of the Indian Medical Association's Thane chapter Dr. Santosh Kadam said it had been a long-standing demand to extend the insurance cover to private doctors.