A total of 89 doctors have died due to COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu, according to data published by the Indian Medical Association (headquarters).
A majority of the deceased — 37 persons — were in their 60s, followed by 21 doctors in their 50s and 18 practitioners in their 70s. At least 40 of them were general practitioners, and nearly 30 were from Chennai.
The IMA released the details of 734 doctors from across the country who lost their lives to COVID-19 as of Wednesday, after the Minister of State in the Union Health Ministry stated in the Rajya Sabha that only 162 doctors had died of the virus as of January 22. Expressing shock over the statement, the IMA said this was contrary to the data released by it.
Of the 734 doctors who died, 431 were general practitioners. Twenty-five were aged below 35. As a community, doctors suffered a relatively higher viral load and case fatality rate.
J.A. Jayalal, IMA national president, said the data was collected from the respective State/local…