THE DOCTORS TO DOCTORS

The pandemic made him wear several hats—doctor, yes, but also a public health expert, a crisis manager, even a media and PR manager. Officially though, Dr Balram Bhargava heads the Indian Council of Medical Research. And, he has managed all his roles with elan, thanks to his decision-making abilities. Bhargava now adds another feather in his cap—THE WEEK’s Man of the Year 2021

- POOJA BIRAIA JAISWAL

Around 9pm on April 25, 2020, Dr Balram Bhargava received an SOS call. Dr Manmath Das, a retina surgeon from a hospital in Bhubaneswar, was calling in for advice on a peculiar case. Bhargava, director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) was all ears.

A 30-year-old diabetic with complete loss of vision in the right eye had arrived at Das’s hospital, travelling 120km. For a year, he had been using his left eye without much trouble, but that particular day he sensed a sudden drop in vision in the left eye, too.

Das knew that the man had to be operated upon the next morning, or he could lose his remaining vision. But he was apprehensive as he did not know the patient’s Covid-19 status, and with the limited testing available then and the time it would take for the report to come, it would be too late. Many cautioned him against doing the surgery, as he stood the risk of getting infected and passing it on to his two small children and aged parents at home. But Das’s conscience did not let him rest; he knew that the surgery could give the young man a new lease of life. Time was running out and a decision had to be made quickly.

Bhargava immediately checked the case load of the block from where the patient hailed. It was a green zone, meaning there were zero Covid-19 cases. He then asked if the patient’s family members or the vehicle driver had any symptoms; none, said Das. Bhargava needed no further information. He asked the surgeon to take all possible precautions, for himself and the patient, and to go ahead with the surgery. The operation was a success and the patient’s vision in the left eye returned to normal.