Patients in hostage due to doctors’ suspension of medical services
Staff Reporter :
Helpless patients across the country have become hostages of physicians who have suspended all forms of medical services in protest of the recent arrests of two gynecologists from Central Hospital in the capital city.
The arrests were made in connection with the unfortunate deaths of a newborn and its mother due to negligence of the doctors.
Meanwhile, Dr. Md. Anwar Hossain Howlader, Secretary of the Health Services Division under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, strongly lambasted the physicians’ decision to halt their services, stating that it is tantamount to holding patients hostage.
He urged the doctors to reconsider their actions and prioritise the well-being of patients over their own professional interests.
Dr. Howlader emphasised the importance of doctors displaying empathy and humanity, rather than focusing solely on their reputations as prominent physicians.
“The doctors should be more empathetic. They should realise whether their actions are correct or not. It is not at all supportable taking the patients in hostage.
Why the patients will be affected for their action? I think they should withdraw their decision considering the suffering of the patients,” he said while visiting the Dengu patients at the Mugda Medical College Hospital in the capital on Monday.
Regarding the incident at the Central Hospital, the Secretary said, “We are currently examining the situation. We will take prompt action.
We have requested doctors to be proactive and provide services. Although the private chambers have been closed, the government hospitals are still operational, providing all necessary services. I believe this issue will not persist for long.”
Meanwhile, various medical professional organisations joined the strike in solidarity, causing immense suffering for patients across the country.
Following such suspension of services, the helpless patients from both Dhaka and outside the capital are being forced to return without receiving treatment at various private hospitals.
Despite undergoing medical examinations in many hospitals, patients are unable to obtain reports due to the absence of doctors.
However, the relevant authorities have stated that all types of medical services are functioning normally in a few selected hospitals.
MH Dulal, Manager (Business and Communication) of Insaaf Barakah Kidney and General Hospital, told the media, “We have a total of 85 doctors who have private chambers in our hospital. Today, all the chambers are closed. However, emergency and indoor services are operational.”
In Savar, no specialist doctors are conducting chambers at any private hospitals, clinics, or diagnostic centers.
Raju Ahmed, Branch In-Charge of Popular Diagnostic Center located at Savar Thana Stand, mentioned, “None of our doctors have come to their chambers today. All the patients are returning home since morning. We have also prohibited those patients who had previously taken appointments from coming.”
He further explained that tests such as ultrasonography (USG), ECG, and X-ray are also unavailable due to the absence of doctors.
He said, “Even if we can perform a few other tests, we cannot provide reports since doctors are not present.”
From Saturia, Manikganj, Mohd. Jasim Uddin came to the hospital with his wife to see a doctor. He said, “There are no doctors in any nearby hospitals. I do not understand how general patients are benefiting from this hardship caused by the doctors. It is not appropriate for them at all.”
The doctors are observing work abstention in different private clinics and diagnostic centres in Rajshahi.
Principal Dr Nowshad Ali of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital said that doctors of different departments including Medicine, Gynecology, Surgery and Orthopedics halted their services at the private clinics after 2:30 pm.
Meanwhile, the Health Consumers Rights Forum has strongly protested the work suspension by the professional body “Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Bangladesh”.
The Forum said that it is unconstitutional and against the human rights to realise demands by taking the pregnant women in hostage. The Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Bangladesh has to take the responsibility if any pregnant mother dies during their work abstention.
The Forum has urged the doctors to refrain from inhumane activities of this nature involving healthcare service.
