The Three “R”s-Rights, Roles and Responsibilities of Healthcare Workers During COVID-19 Outbreak in India

This article addresses the rights, roles and responsibilities of Healthcare Workers (HCW) who are front line warriors in any pandemic outbreak. Coronaviruses 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has emerged as international public health emergency in March 2020, and exposed the weak/failed health care system preparedness to respond to the pandemic threat and controlling the community spread. In India, huge population, poor economic growth and unacceptable doctor to patient ratio made swift response to emergence of pandemic, safeguarding HCWs, ability to provide care without mental and physical burn out challenging. This review emphasises the need for safety of HCW and patients, infection control, security to the family, psychosocial and mental well-being, proper allocation of medical supplies, medical ethics and communication.