MUMBAI: A 52-year-old gynaecologist from Kalyan,
Dr Parag Patil, died at Jaslok Hospital on Sunday after a month-long battle with Covid-19. An alumnus of Parel’s KEM Hospital, Dr Patil is believed to be the ninth medical practitioner from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region to succumb to the infection. The
Indian Medical Association (IMA) has said that at least 13 allopathic doctors have died in Maharashtra since March.
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Covid warrior, Dr Patil was a part of the Kalyan Doctor’s Army formed by the IMA-Kalyan to help the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) tackle the rising number of infections. He had actively worked in the civic-run fever clinics, besides providing maternity services at his own facility, Shubhamkar Maternity Hospital, which he managed with his gynaecologist wife. The last time he attended the fever clinic was on May 8, said members of the Doctors’ Army. “Dr Patil was a true Covid warrior. He treated patients in the civic-run fever OPD for free,” said Dr Nitin Zabak, a close friend.
The doctor is said to have developed the initial symptoms of fever around May 23 and sought treatment under a local physician before getting admitted to Meera Hospital in Kalyan on May 29. Despite all the initial medications, including oseltamivir, hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, his fever didn’t subside. A high resolution CT scan revealed changes in his lungs around the same time he developed breathing difficulty. The doctor was subsequently moved to Horizon Hospital in Thane on June 2, where he was put on a non-invasive ventilator. “He would update us about his health condition and treatment protocol on our alumni group. We were all hopeful he will come out,” said gynaecologist Dr Niranjan Chavan, who had known him for 33 years. As his condition didn’t show much improvement, his family decided to move him to Jaslok Hospitalon June 7. “We had managed to get even the antiviral Remdesivir. Our batchmates from the US discussed his case and shared their treatment protocol,” Dr Chavan added.
Dr Patil had to be intubated the next day. “There were good days and bad days. He managed to wave to his family through a video call once,” said a friend. After being on ventilator for nearly two weeks, the doctor passed away early on Sunday.
Dr Prashant Patil, secretary of IMA-Kalyan, called the death shocking and added that the doctor would always take added precautions while handling Covid-19 patients. “We still can’t understand how he got infected.” Dr Pratibha Panpatil, KDMC health officer, said, “He was also providing service at Tisgaon primary health centre, where he treated pregnant women infected with Covid.” The doctor is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Dr Avinash Bhondawe said that the IMA has created a national registry to keep a count of the infections and deaths among doctors. “There have been 13 deaths so far in the state among IMA members. Around 458 doctors have recovered from the infection, while 26 are currently under treatment. As many as 800 doctors have been under quarantine in the state so far,” he added.
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