More than 38,000 doctors, including those retired from the Armed Forces Medical Services, have volunteered to help the government in its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, a senior official said on Friday.

On March 25, the government had appealed to doctors, including those who have retired, to come forward and join the efforts to fight the pandemic.

“Around 38,162 volunteer doctors, including retired government doctors, Armed Forces Medical Services doctors, public sector undertaking and private doctors, have signed up with the government to battle the Covid-19 pandemic,” the official said.

The official said the Niti Aayog had sent a list of names of these doctors to the ministry of health and family welfare and the National Disaster Management Authority.

In a statement posted on the Niti Aayog’s website on March 25, the government had said those who wish to contribute to the war against the pandemic may register themselves through a link provided on the site.

“The Government of India requests for volunteer doctors who are fit and willing to be available for providing their services in the public health facilities and the training hospitals in the near future.

“We appeal to such doctors to come forward at this hour of need. You could also be a retired government, Armed Forces Medical Services, public sector undertaking or a private doctor,” the statement had said.

It had noted that in case the outbreak leads to a high number of infected individuals, India’s public health facilities would face tremendous load to take care of a large number of patients.