The High Court yesterday directed the government to ensure that hospitals, clinics and medical practitioners provide emergency medical services to every patient when brought to them.

The High Court bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice SM Maniruzzaman asked the respondents in the directive to submit a report within three months after complying with its directives.

The HC bench came up with the directives and a rule following a petition filed by rights organisations Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) and Academy of Law and Policy (ALAP), seeking directives for judicial intervention to develop a supportive legal framework for emergency medical services in Bangladesh.

The health secretary, director general of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), and president of Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) have been made respondents in the directive.

In response to the petition, the bench also ordered the respondents to compile a list of all private and government hospitals and clinics in Bangladesh and a separate list of hospitals and clinics that have emergency departments along with a general description of the condition of such departments and to submit the lists to the court in three months.

The court also questioned the failure of the respondents in ensuring emergency medical services to all patients across the country and issued a rule asking them (respondents) to show causes in four weeks why their failure to this effect should not be declared illegal and unconstitutional.

The bench fixed January 18, 2022, for further hearing and passing order on this issue.

The refusal of hospitals and clinics to treat emergency patients for one reason or another has become a phenomenon in Bangladesh, mentioned the petitioners.