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Doctors on Monday announced to continue their strike in the hospitals across the country until their demands are met. The demands include the arrest of those responsible for attacking doctors and the enactment of a health protection act.
Despite the strike, the services at the emergency units and other services on a limited scale will be available.
Dr Abdul Ahad, a resident surgeon at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), announced the new phase of the protest at DMCH on Monday. He stated that the strike would persist until all individuals involved in the attack on doctors at DMCH are apprehended, the health protection act is drafted, and a health police force is established.
The protest schedule includes daily sit-ins from 8:00 am to 10:00 am. Emergency services will operate as usual, while outdoor services will be available on a limited basis from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Routine services are halted, but indoor services will continue, Dr Ahad added.
The strike has significantly impacted patients and their families, with services disrupted due to the protest against the assault on doctors. Although the emergency department at DMCH remains open, outpatient services have been suspended, leading to increased suffering for patients who are now forced to seek care in the emergency department.
Md Salauddin, whose daughter is receiving treatment at DMCH, expressed frustration over the service disruptions. He noted that while nurses and other staff members have been present, senior doctors have been unavailable since Saturday night.
DMCH authority said that they were in discussions with the agitating doctors on behalf of the hospital to bring normalcy.
Meanwhile, police have arrested one individual in connection with the attack on DMCH doctors.
The doctors initially announced a strike on Sunday morning affecting various departments, including the emergency unit.
However, following a meeting with Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum, who assured a thorough investigation and justice for the culprits, the agitating doctors returned to work after the evening. Other departments, including emergency, resumed their services on the same day.