Demand for risk allowance after doctor contracts HBV

A senior resident anesthetist at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, recently suffered a needle prick on the job and later tested positive for Hepatitis-B. Citing his plight and similar instances in the past, doctors across the city have raised a demand for risk hazard allowance.

"I took a Hepatitis B surface antigen and antiretroviral therapy for AIDS after the needle prick in the operation theatre. Patients posted for routine OTs here never have viral markers, though it is practised in other places," said the doctor on the condition of anonymity.

The Federation of Residents Doctors' Association recently wrote to the Union Health Ministry, asking for risk hazard allowance, covering vaccination, for resident doctors.

Over 200 surgeries are carried out at AIIMS every day and the cases of doctors suffering needle pricks are significant, the doctor pointed out.

In a study by the Microbiology department at AIIMS in 2016, 476 staff members were surveyed on self-reported injuries; 73.7% of doctors were hurt by needles at some point; followed by 19.1% nurses and 3.2% of disposal staff. Of the workers, 12 (2.5%) were not vaccinated against HBV.

Of the vaccinated, 24 (5%) had completed three doses of the vaccine in a year, while 19 (3.9%) were vaccinated more than 10 years back.