The High Court has directed the government to ensure, within two months, that emergency medical services will be provided to the wounded in road crash victims across the country, reported UNB.
The court issued the order on Wednesday, asking the secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to publish a gazette notification within two months on the guidelines to provide emergency health services to the victims and protect their aides – people who take victims to hospitals.
The bench of Justices Syed Refaat Ahmed and Farid Ahmed passed the order following a writ petition, filed by Syed Saifuddin Kamal, a social entrepreneur.
Advocate Rashana Imam, Anita Gazi Rahman and Sharmin Akter stood for the petitioner, while Deputy Attorney General Kazi Zinat Haq represented the state.
Advocate Sharmin Akter said following the court order, all hospitals from now on should provide emergency health services to the injured victims of road accidents.
The court also asked the authorities concerned to submit a progress report on the emergency steps ensuring health services at all hospitals and medical centres as per the National Road Safety Plan 2014-16 within three months.
Saif, along with the Bangladesh Legal Aid Service Trust (BLAST), filed the writ in 2016 as he found several hospitals refusing to provide emergency treatment to a victim of a road accident.
After the primary hearing, the High Court on February 10, 2016 issued a ruling asking the hospital authorities to explain why they should not be directed to provide emergency health services to road accident victims.
Saturday, March 22, 2025
