While the recent events at the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital (NIOH) in Dhaka, triggered by the desperate act of four injured protesters allegedly consuming poison in protest of perceived medical negligence, may appear to be an unfortunate isolated incident, there can be no questioning the systemic malaise that has long afflicted our healthcare sector.
For over two weeks, regular hospital services were suspended at one of our most crucial medical institutions, leaving thousands of patients without care while once again bringing to light just how fragile our medical institutions are -- especially in the face of crisis.
These recent incidents, marked by allegations of inadequate treatment, expose once again the distrust that exists between patients and providers in our country. While it is a fact that there is a chronic lack of accountability and transparency in our hospitals - and indeed in many public institutions offering services - this is not an issue that will be solved overnight, and will require a concerted effort from all sides.
With that said, stories of preventable harm and systemic indifference at our hospitals and healthcare institutions have become all too common, revealing a system where negligence bears little to no consequences.
This recurring reality however starts with our overburdened infrastructure. We simply have an inadequate doctor-patient ratio and indeed sufficiently trained and motivated medical staff. While these individuals have a duty to serve, without the right infrastructure, training, and indeed incentives, this becomes an increasingly difficult task.
Our healthcare system has long needed an overhaul. Simultaneously, while there is no alternative to better standards, we must also confront and eliminate the culture of denial and impunity that has defined our hospitals. Patients’ plea for care should not end in tragedy or silence.
