All public medical colleges, as well as specialized, district and upazila hospitals across the country have been asked to stay alert and take all-out preparations to ensure emergency healthcare service and tackle any potential untoward situation during tomorrow’s 10th parliamentary elections.
All the medical facilities have also been advised to keep their emergency departments ready with special teams.
Director (administration) of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr Shah Newaz – on behalf of the health directorate DG – issued a letter of request to all directors, civil surgeons, upazila health and family planning officers and others in this regard on Thursday.
In a separate letter dated December 17 last year, the deputy secretary of health ministry also issued directives for taking necessary preparation to ensure healthcare and treatment for foreign observers and journalists who were coming to Bangladesh for covering the national elections. All civil surgeons and large hospitals of Dhaka city have been told to ensure the presence of specialist doctors.
Seeking anonymity, several senior officials of the ministry and the DGHS told the Dhaka Tribune that emergency surgical or other operations might be needed, as there was potential for violence during the polls, which was taking place in a volatile situation.
Sources said senior DGHS officials would monitor the health activities of the hospitals across the country.
There are also fears that apart from violence by the opposition activists, supporters of Awami League and its rebel candidates might also clash across the country, including the capital.
As per the wishes of the Election Commission, the DGHS has reportedly appointed 48 of its officers and employees at different polling centres of Dhaka city.
Preferring to stay unnamed, several DGHS employees said they were worried and feeling insecure as no one was safe from violence.
Dr Mushfiqur Rahman, deputy director of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), however said no such letter from the DGHS has been received, but added that preparations have been made to ensure emergency service for the patients.
He also said the DMCH had to provide emergency services to a lot of burn patients of arson attacks in recent times.
However, emergency services might be disrupted as the DGHS had also asked different hospitals in Dhaka to provide 28 ambulances to the police stations, which would use the vehicles for patrolling during election day.
Asked about the letter from the DGHS, Dr Shah Newaz said there was no such directive from the EC, but the request for emergency preparations was part of the directorate’s routine activities.
Like the past elections, all health institutes across the country have been asked to stay prepared to ensure emergency healthcare services, the DGHS director said.
Asked if the present situation was different from previous polls, he said: “In a sense you are right, but our preparation is to ensure emergency service for all.”