Doctors to resume outpatient, limited indoor services from Tuesday

Doctors, who enforced a nationwide shutdown, have announced the resumption of outpatient services and limited indoor services at all hospitals starting Tuesday, September 3. 

The emergency departments will continue to operate as usual.

The announcement was made at a press conference held at 4:00pm on Monday, September 2, near the administrative building of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. 

Abdul Ahad, a resident surgeon in the neurosurgery department, spoke at the event, stating that private services will also continue to benefit patients.

The protesting doctors said outpatient departments will be open from 8:00am to 1:00pm, and they will hold a sit-in programme from 8:00am to 10:00am.

Ahad mentioned that the adviser for health had spoken with them on Sunday. 

He noted that one individual involved in the attack on Dhaka Medical College and four others who attacked Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital have been arrested. 

Security has been strengthened at Dhaka Medical College, Mugda Medical College, and Suhrawardy Medical College. He warned that the situation could worsen if security is not increased in other hospitals, as destabilising efforts are being made by elements from the former regime.

Ahad emphasised the need for urgent measures to ensure the safety of patients and called for security forces to be deployed to protect doctors and patients at district and upazila government hospitals.

He also iterated that the main demand of the ongoing movement is the reform of the health sector, which remains unaddressed despite its significance. 

He pointed out that although attacks on doctors have occurred in the past, no trials have taken place.

Presenting two key demands, Ahad called for the arrest and punishment of the culprits involved in the attacks and urged the government to introduce "health police" through new legislation to ensure the safety of hospitals.