Staff Reporter :
Outpatient services at hospitals across the country resumed in full swing on Wednesday, following a period of disruption.
Sources reported that emergency departments in nearly all hospitals in the capital and various upazilas were crowded with patients. Although hospitals had partially resumed operations after a shutdown on September 1, physicians noted that both emergency and outpatient departments are now fully operational due to enhanced security measures.
At Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), outdoor medical services were reinstated, and the emergency services were found to be vibrant. DMCH Director Brigadier General Asaduzzaman Khan confirmed the resumption of outpatient services to journalists.
Meanwhile, Harunur Rashid, the director of Suhrawardy Hospital, stated, “The emergency department of our hospital is fully operational. On September 2, the outpatient department was partially operational, and on September 3, it was slightly less so.
However, from this morning, it has been fully operational.” He added that while there are currently 25 police personnel on site, their demand is for a total of 40 to further strengthen security.
The issue of patient care was brought into question following the death of patient Rabeya Akhter on September 1. Rashid explained, “The patient’s relatives misunderstood the situation and behaved rudely with us. Later, we clarified the matter and resolved it mutually. There is no further issue with them regarding this. The doctors had no fault in the matter.”
On August 31, a patient died at DMCH, leading to allegations of negligence from agitated relatives who subsequently assaulted three doctors on the hospital premises.
This incident prompted doctors to call for a strike.
However, they withdrew their call for a complete shutdown of medical services across the country on September 1 after receiving assurances from the health adviser regarding security and the arrest of those who had assaulted the doctors. Following this, two arrests were made, and security was significantly increased in hospitals.
As outpatient services return to normal, hospitals are working to ensure the safety and well-being of both patients and medical staff.