Many critically ill patients suffered after being sent home without receiving treatment from the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) during the doctors’ complete shutdown on Saturday. PHOTO : RASHEDUZZAMAN
Doctors have agreed to temporarily suspend their nationwide strike until 8 p.m. on Monday, following assurances from Health and Family Welfare Adviser Nurjahan Begum that those responsible for Saturday's attack on medical staff will be apprehended within 24 hours. This decision came after a group of doctors met with Begum on the evening of September 1.
Nurjahan Begum provided this assurance during a press conference at the Secretariat, which followed an indefinite work abstention by doctors at all public and private hospitals across the country.
She emphasized that the attackers will be identified through CCTV footage and will face legal consequences.
"You (doctors) are like my children. Please withdraw the shutdown as you have undertaken the responsibility of providing healthcare services to the people. You have made sacrifices. Please, prove again that you are here to serve the people... This is my humble request to you," Begum stated.
Scores of critically ill patients were sent home without receiving treatment during the doctors' complete shutdown of services.
In response to the violence, two platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) to ensure the safety of healthcare professionals.
This deployment follows an incident where doctors at DMCH were assaulted by relatives of a patient who claimed the hospital staff had administered incorrect treatment in the emergency department.
The doctors' strike, affecting both private and public hospitals nationwide, has severely disrupted medical services. In a press briefing outside the DMCH administration building, doctors announced that while their 'complete shutdown' will continue, emergency department services will be available with security provided to each on-duty doctor by law enforcement.
Medical services in indoor and outdoor departments will be suspended, though ICU and HDU services will remain operational.
The doctors stated, "Our shutdown programme will remain in force. However, within the next 24 hours, only emergency department services will be provided in each emergency department subject to security provided to each duty doctor by a law enforcement officer."
They also noted that indoor and outdoor medical services would remain suspended, but ICU and HDU services would continue. The doctors added, "If security officers are deployed within five minutes, we will immediately resume full medical services. We will maintain this arrangement for the next seven days and suspend our strike only if a health police and health protection law are enacted within this period."
Earlier, Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum announced the formation of two separate investigation committees to probe the attack on doctors, incidents of vandalism, and allegations of negligence in treatment.
The nationwide strike has led to the closure of all hospital services, including emergency care, causing significant suffering for patients. For instance, Jahanara Begum (32), a pregnant woman, was unable to receive admission at DMCH and was seen in distress outside the hospital.
Abdul Wadud (55), a diabetic patient, returned home without treatment, suffering from low blood pressure and uncontrolled diabetes. Many patients with serious conditions have been turned away from hospitals due to the strike, though there are no confirmed reports of casualties related to the lack of treatment.
Shahariar Badhon, a patient’s guardian, condemned the attack on doctors and called for the identification and prosecution of those responsible. He criticized the doctors' decision to halt medical services, suggesting it was imprudent given the current transitional period in the country.
A case has been filed at Shahbag Police Station in connection with the assault on three doctors from DMCH’s neurosurgery department.
Accused in the case are private university Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT) teacher Shahriar Arnab, students Paljoy, Sahab Turj, and Saimi Naz Shayan, along with 40-50 unnamed individuals.
Amir Hossain (53), an office assistant at DMCH, lodged the complaint at Shahbag Police Station on Sunday (September 1). Shahbag Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) AKM Shahabuddin confirmed the filing of the case.
Under the current strike, all types of healthcare services, including emergency and outpatient departments, are suspended.
The doctors and nurses, who have historically been at the forefront during national crises and natural disasters, are now calling for improved security measures to protect healthcare workers.
They demand that the individuals involved in the recent attacks be promptly identified, arrested, and brought to trial, and that immediate security provisions be implemented at healthcare institutions through the establishment of a Health Police force.
Messenger/Disha
