“Society Won’t Forgive Us If We Don’t Stand By Doctors,” Says Supreme Court on COVID Compensation

The Supreme Court has urged the Centre to ensure fair compensation for doctors who died during COVID-19, including those in private hospitals, saying society expects justice for frontline workers.

New Delhi, October 28, 2025 – The Supreme Court of India has made a strong statement while hearing a plea seeking compensation for doctors who died while serving during the COVID-19 pandemic. The court said that society would not forgive the judiciary if it failed to stand by the medical professionals who risked their lives during one of the country’s most difficult times.

A bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and R. Mahadevan observed that several doctors who worked in private hospitals and clinics had also played a vital role during the pandemic, yet their families were being denied compensation under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) insurance scheme. The court said it was unfair to assume that doctors in private institutions were driven by profit and not service.

The bench directed the Central Government to submit comprehensive data on all insurance and compensation schemes available for healthcare workers who died during COVID-19, including any that extended beyond the PMGKP. The court emphasized that valid claims should not be rejected simply because a doctor was not officially requisitioned by the government.

The hearing stems from a Bombay High Court order in 2021 that denied compensation to private doctors unless they were specifically deployed by government authorities. The Supreme Court noted that such a narrow interpretation undermines the spirit of the scheme and the sacrifices made by healthcare professionals across all sectors.

“Doctors were on the frontlines, whether in government or private service. If a doctor lost their life due to COVID-19 while treating patients, their family deserves support. Society won’t forgive us if we fail them,” the court remarked.

The Centre has been given time to file its response and submit updated figures on compensation claims settled and pending. The court is expected to issue further directions once it reviews the data.

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