Law, enforcement of HC guidelines urgent

Formulation of law and enforcement of High Court guidelines are needed to ensure emergency medical services for road accident victims, speakers have said at a webinar.

While sharing statistics, Taqbir Huda, research specialist at Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), presented a comparative analysis between the HC guidelines on such emergency medical services and provisions endorsed by the Road Transport Act, 2018.

"Provision no-13 of the guideline ensures protection of people who volunteer to help the road accident victims from police harassment and from obligation to give testimony before the court. Again, provision 14 states that it is the duty of police officers to ensure treatment for road accident victims. If ambulance is not available, police will use their own vehicles to take the victims to the nearest hospital. However, these provisions are not covered by the Road Transport Act, 2018," said Taqbir.

The Daily Star, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust and ALAP jointly organised the webinar titled "Emergency Medical Services for Road Accident Victims" on October 9.

Barrister Sara Hossain, a Supreme Court lawyer; Dr Ashraf Uddin Ahmed, resident physician and assistant professor, in charge of medical emergency, BIRDEM; and Ilias Kanchan, Nirapad Sarak Chai chairman, spoke at the webinar.

It was moderated by Advocate Rashna Imam, founder, Academy of Law and Policy.

At the beginning of the session, the speakers presented statistics of road accidents.

According to Nirapad Sarak Chai, in 2019, 4,356 people were killed and 6,953 injured by road accidents. That means, on an average 11 were killed and 19 injured every day in the country last year.

Dr Ashraf Uddin Ahmed said, "All the doctors must have life support and basic trauma management training so that they can provide emergency care to any road accident victim. BRTA while issuing driving licence can also ensure that all the drivers have first aid training before having a driving licence. Besides, trauma centres should be established all along the highways."

"Our ambulance services should also be improved significantly. Ambulances should be equipped with life support equipment and manned by at least one paramedic," he said.

Focusing on the legal aspects, Barrister Sara said, "Lawyers mobilise more to get a full-fledged law ensuring medical services for road accident victims. Meanwhile, we should circulate the High Court guidelines that guarantee emergency medical treatment for them."

"We are also legally bound to abide by the guidelines. These guidelines should be translated into Bengali and circulated widely through mainstream and social media," she added.

Ilias Kanchan, who has been protesting for safer road for more than 27 years, emphasised investment, political will and coordination between ministries.

He said, "Road transport sector should not be operated only under the communication ministry. This sector has a lot to do with public health. There should be a coordinating body between health and communication ministries to monitor medical services for accident victims."

"We also need a lot of investment to build safer roads, to provide medical care and to improve public transport condition. For such a large scale investment, motivation to reform the sector from the political leadership is essential," said Ilias Kanchan.