Honouring doctors.

THE medical profession is one of the most respected anywhere in the world. In times of emergency and peace, doctors, nurses and hospital staff provide essential services. They have been on thefrontlinesin the Eghtagainst thenovelcoronavirus pandemic; despite great risk to their own lives, they continue to show up at work. But how have they been treated in return? In Latvia, a statue was raised in honour of medical workers; in Brazil, the Christ the Redeemer statue was lit up to appear like a doctor.

Videos of people around the world clapping for workers from their rooftops went viral. In other places, however, healthcare workers have been the target of vicious attacks and growing hostility. In India, for instance, two doctors were pelted with stones as they tried to make their way to the home of a suspected Covid-19 patient. Others have been spat on and subjected to verbal abuse.

In Mexico, doctors and medical workers have felt the deep effects of stigmatisation. In some instances, they have been banned from public transportation or had bleach thrown on them.

In the past few months, Pakistan has lost many medical...