Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) has resumed its outdoor services on a limited scale following doctors' strike protesting attack.
The outdoor services began at 10am on Tuesday (3 September) and continue until 1pm every day for the time being, protesting doctors said.
On-site visits to the hospital and conversations with the authorities confirmed the resumption of the outdoor services.
However, as the hospital director was unavailable, it was not possible to take photographs of the outdoor department or speak with patients seeking treatment.
DMCH Deputy Director Dr. Muhammad Nurul Islam told Bangladesh First that outpatient services have commenced according to the schedule provided by the striking doctors.
When contacted by phone, Dr Abdul Ahad, the coordinator of the striking doctors, did not respond.
Previously, on Saturday (31 August), an incident occurred where three doctors from the Neurosurgery Department were assaulted.
The doctors demanded that the perpetrators be identified and arrested using CCTV footage, giving an ultimatum that they would go on strike if this was not done within 24 hours.
On the same day, at midnight, injured individuals from a clash between two groups in the Khilgaon Sipahibagh area arrived at Dhaka Medical for treatment.
Later, members of another group entered the hospital's emergency department armed with machetes and ensured the death of one of the injured individuals.
During the incident, four individuals were apprehended and handed over to the army by the hospital authorities.
Following this, relatives of another patient who had died vandalised the hospital's nonstop emergency centre.
In response to these incidents, doctors halted emergency services due to security concerns.
They demanded that the culprits be identified and brought to justice within 24 hours, failing which they would go on strike. The doctors subsequently went on strike, suspending all medical services and presenting a four-point demand, declaring they would continue the strike until their demands were met. They later held a meeting with health advisers.
Among their demands, two were given priority. The remaining two demands—police protection for healthcare workers and the enactment of a law for the protection of doctors—require more time to implement. However, due to the assurance of improved security and the prompt arrest of the culprits, the doctors resumed emergency services conditionally.
On that day, DMCH Director Brigadier General Asaduzzaman said, "We are hopeful that the doctors will withdraw their full strike by the end of today. We have appealed to them, and they are considering it."
Asaduzzaman added, "Last night, you might have seen members of RAB, the army, the police, BGB, and Ansar deployed here, and they are still present. Adequate security measures have been put in place, allowing doctors to provide emergency medical services."
Following a meeting, the striking doctors announced on Monday (2 September), that outdoor services would resume on a limited scale.
Dr Abdul Ahad, resident surgeon of the Neurosurgery Department, stated that the outpatient department would be operational from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM starting on Tuesday.
He added that emergency services would continue, with the hospital office opening at 8am; however, from Tuesday, outdoor services would only run from 10am to 1pm. A sit-in protest would be held from 8am to 10am.
For the benefit of patients, private services will remain available, he mentioned.
