Doctors across the country have announced a complete
shutdown of all public and private hospitals starting on Sunday with a
four-point demand, including the arrest of those involved in the assault on
doctors in Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on Saturday.
The doctors said the shutdown will continue until their
demands are met. When asked about who will take responsibility if anyone die
for a lack of treatment during the shutdown, "The sooner they will accept
our demand, the better. We will start giving treatment as soon as our demands
are met," the doctors said.
The four-point demands presented by the doctors are:
All individuals or groups involved in the attack inside DMCH
must be identified and arrested within the next 24 hours and brought to justice
under the Speedy Trial Act.
To ensure a safe workplace, security must be immediately
ensured at all healthcare institutions in the country through the deployment of
armed "health police".
To provide safe healthcare, no outsiders other than
patients' visitors (visitor cardholders) should be allowed to enter the
hospital, with security ensured by armed "health police".
If any irregularities or negligence in patient care are
observed at the hospital, appropriate action should be taken through complaints
to the relevant authorities. Under no circumstances should individuals take the
law into their own hands.
Earlier on Saturday, the DMCH doctors went on a strike to
protest the attack on doctors on the DMCH premises.
