SBMCH intern doctors' strike put patients in trouble

Treatment at Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital is facing disruption as intern doctors started an indefinite strike, protesting an assault on their colleagues by attendants of a patient for alleged negligence on Tuesday night.

Two of the attendants were cops, alleged the interns.

They also shut down hospital gates and emergency services for two hours that night, said witnesses. 

Many desperate patients in need of treatment were seen crowding in front of the hospital gate at night, while some gathered at private diagnostic centres in long queues yesterday morning.

“Why do we have to suffer for this feud,” said a frustrated Shornali Sarker, who came to the hospital from Jhalakathi for her daughter's treatment yesterday. “The doctor at the medicine ward told me to go for a blood test for her. But when I went there, it was shut down,” she sighed. “I had to run to the nearest diagnostic centre for her test,” said the mother, too tired to realise that she ended up paying way more at the centre.

Mosaddek Hossain, SBMCH intern association convener, said, one Sirajul Islam, who got injured in a road accident, was admitted to the surgery ward on Tuesday night. Two of his relatives were cops who got engaged in an altercation with the intern doctors and assaulted Dr Palash, assistant registrar, and two of his associates, alleged the interns.

“We will continue the strike as safety and security of the on-duty doctors were not ensured and we suspect that police will not investigate the incident properly since the assault was led by Assistant Sub-inspector Mohiuddin and ASI Asim,” alleged Mosaddek.

Enamul Haque Pannu, a relative of the patient, claimed that the interns misbehaved with them and accused the doctors and interns of negligence.

Mohiuddin and Asim also got hurt in the altercation, he alleged.

Dr Sirajul Haque, director of SBMCH, said the hospital authorities will take legal actions in this regard. “We are continuing a dialogue with the intern doctors and we think the strike will be withdrawn immediately.” “Meanwhile, we are continuing our out patient department activities and emergency medical services with the doctors' support,” he added.

Ataur Rahaman, officer-in-charge of Kotwali police, said the situation is under control now and ASI Mohiuddin has been suspended. “If any case is lodged, we will start the investigation.”