Medical services to resume in full swing at DMCH, other hospitals tomorrow

After two days of operations on a limited scale, medical services will resume in full swing in all departments of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) and other hospitals across the country from tomorrow, said protesting doctors of DMCH today.
At a press conference this evening, Abdul Ahad, resident surgeon of neurosurgery department of DMCH, said, ”Considering the visible steps by the government in favour of our demands and the overall situation of the country, we are announcing the resumption of full service in all hospitals of the country.’
”From tomorrow [Wednesday], medical services will continue at full swing in all hospitals. No new movement has been announced,” he said.
”According to our demand, the hospital administration has ensured the safety of the doctors, and the accused who attacked on doctors were arrested,” he added.
The protesting doctors said that they are hopeful that their demands would be implemented soon and the healthcare environment will be safer.
”Formation of a health police and reforming the Health Protection Act — our second and third demands — have been discussed with the health secretary. The secretary assured us that he would take effective steps to implement these demands at the earliest,” he said.
A committee will be formed in this regard, he added.
Imam Hossain, another resident surgeon of DMCH’s neurosurgery department, said they have postponed their protest as they were assured by the ministry that their demands will be met.
When asked whether medical services will be fully operational from tonight, Imam said, “We have been at work since this morning. From tomorrow, medical services will continue in full swing in all departments of the hospital. We are satisfied with the security measures taken by the hospital.”
Doctors and medical students went on strike from Sunday morning with a four-point demands after the attack on two doctors working at the neurosurgery department of DMCH on Saturday.
Eventually, doctors, nurses, interns, and medical students called strike in public and private hospitals nationwide.
However, service providers in most private and some public hospitals did not respond to the call.
They returned to work on a limited scale around 8:00pm on Sunday — around 10 hours of calling the strike — after being assured that the demands would be fulfilled.
Work continued on a limited scale on Monday and today.