An Indian doctor during COVID: ‘I fear the worst is yet to come’

‘I feel helpless knowing all I can do is refer them to another hospital where they also won’t have any beds.’

Aftabuddin Ahmed is a 37-year-old surgeon at a government hospital in Delhi. During the first wave of the pandemic, he says his hospital would treat more than 5,000 patients – COVID and non-COVID – per day. Since the second wave began at the beginning of April, the hospital has been converted to a COVID-only facility. Hundreds of new patients arrive daily. He speaks to Minreet Kaur, describing a neglected healthcare system exposed by an unprecedented crisis. It is late at night and my eyes are tired. Every day starts for me at 6am. Today, it was with a call from someone desperately searching for a bed for their loved one. I had to turn them away as we simply don’t have any beds available. I feel helpless knowing all I can do is refer them to another hospital where they also won’t have any beds. This shortage of beds and oxygen is unlike anything I have seen before. Every day, I receive about 20 calls – the desperation in people’s voices makes me feel terrible. “My father is in desperate need of oxygen, please help him or he will die,” some plead with me. Others cry as they tell me that they have young children and are afraid to die and leave them alone. Some shout; they believe it’s our fault. But the truth is this situation is out of control.