All medical services at the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital in Dhaka remained suspended for the second consecutive day on Thursday, following a clash earlier between hospital staff and some July warriors.
As a result, patients have been facing significant inconvenience.
As of 1pm, when this report was filed, all types of medical services at the hospital were suspended.
Law enforcement personnel were deployed in front of the hospital and at its entrance.
Except for urgent tasks, no one was being allowed entry.
Nasrin Sultana and her husband Anwar had been waiting for over two hours in front of a nearby tea stall adjacent to the hospital, after arriving from Madaripur earlier in the day for Anwar’s cataract surgery.
Anwar said: “We were given a date for surgery today (Thursday) around noon. But upon arrival, we found the hospital closed. No one can say for sure when operations will resume. We will leave once the rain subsides.”
Meanwhile, Sumona, who had come from Shekhertek with her daughter, said: “We heard about some commotion yesterday (Wednesday). But we did not expect even the emergency department to be closed. My daughter injured her eye while playing — there is internal bleeding, her entire eye has turned red and water keeps coming out of it.”
Earlier on Wednesday, all hospital activities except for emergency services were suspended when hospital staff staged a work stoppage demanding safety and security.
Subsequently, from around 11am, all services came to a complete halt following a clash involving hospital officials, general patients and individuals injured during the July uprising.
Hospital employee Md Zahid told Dhaka Tribune: “All services have been suspended since Wednesday's clash. As of now, we have not received any instructions from higher authorities regarding the resumption of operations. Therefore, we are not attending work.”
In this regard, Assistant Professor Dr Syeed Mehbub Ul Kadir told Dhaka Tribune: “We are doctors—serving patients is our duty. But how can we provide care if we do not feel safe in our own workplace? Seven to eight of our doctors were injured yesterday. Some even required stitches to the head. They do not feel secure even in the hospitals where they are receiving treatment."
He added: "I myself had to lock myself inside the operation theatre with the lights off for a long time during the clash. Eventually, army personnel came and escorted me out. Even then, several students were shouting at me.”
He further said: “When I, myself, do not feel safe, how can we possibly deliver medical services? However, both the hospital administration and the Ministry of Health are aware of the matter. We hope they will take appropriate measures regarding the clash and decide on the resumption of services soon. Until then, the hospital will remain closed.”
Acting director Dr Jane Alam informed the media: “The hospital's operations are still suspended. No decision has yet been made regarding their resumption.”
