Chittagong Medical College Hospital as well as other state-run hospitals are literally struggling to tackle the rush of a large number of patients as physicians of private clinic have been observing work abstention since Wednesday.
Hospital sources said patients who were undergoing treatment at private clinics yesterday started coming to the CMCH due to the ongoing strike.
Principal of the CMCH Dr Selim Jahangir told the Dhaka Tribune they had cancelled leave of all doctors and employees of the hospital due to patients’ rush.
“Apart from that additional steps have taken at operation theater and emergency ward of hospitals to meet patients’ demand,” he added.
He said the patients who were coming to the CMCH to take treatment might face accommodation crisis.
Partha Sikdar, a resident of Puthia, said: “I have got appointment of a neurologist at Sevron Clinic for my mother. But the doctor did not meet my mother due to the strike.
“In the morning, we went to the CMCH, but now we are going back to home seeing huge rush there, he said while talking to the correspondent in the afternoon.
Nayek of CMCH police outpost Jahangir Alam said: “The rush of patients started in the morning, doctors are struggling to provide treatment to increasing patients.”
Physicians of all private clinics and diagnostic centres under the banner of the Bangladesh Medical Association went on the strike on Wednesday, demanding withdrawal of two cases filed against two doctors for their alleged negligence in performing duties.
Khairul Bashar, father of a patient named Meherunnesa Rima who died recently at Surgiscope Clinic, filed the case on Tuesday with Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court against doctor couple – Dr Shameema Siddique and Dr Mahbubul Alam.
Rima, wife of Australia expatriate Abdullah Al Mamun, gave birth to a baby boy on January 10. Later, she died due to alleged negligence of doctors while taking post-operative treatment.
Apart from the case, one Jebal Hossen lodged another case with the same court against Dr Rana Chowdhury, registrar of Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH)’s ward no 24, on charges of negligence in duty.
Hospitals sources said the private hospitals and clinics were covering healthcare services of around 60% to 70% patients.
Due to the strike patients are now rushing to government hospitals and other hospitals under Chittagong City Corporation.
Healthcare services are also given at Agrabad Ma O Shihu Hospital and USTC amid physicians’ strike, added the sources.
