Patients suffer as interns go on strike

Interns at Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) yesterday went on a wildcat strike to protest the assault on the doctors by a patient's attendants.
The treatment at the only specialised public hospital of the southern region is facing disruption and therefore, many patients are leaving the hospital.
Only the outdoor and emergency services have been resumed after a meeting between the interns and the authority.
The internee doctors brought out a protest procession from the hospital campus around 8:00am and also burnt tyres.
Dr Mehedi Hasan, president of internee doctors association, SBMCH, said the strike would continue until the attackers are arrested.
Witnesses said seven attendants of 60-year-old Korimunnesa Bibi, a brain stroke patient, became angry and assaulted Dr Tonmoy Barua, on duty physician, Dr Mehedi and Dr Ratan Kumar Dhali after the patient had died around 6:30am.
However, Mamunur Rashid, son of the dead and constable of Rangamati Police Station, denying any incident of assaulting said the doctor on duty did not provide her mother oxygen support although the ward registrar asked him to do so.
He blamed the negligence of the doctors for his mother's death. He also alleged that the doctors used abusive language during an altercation over the death.
Dr Ratan, assistant registrar of the ward, said the patient was admitted in a critical condition and doctors tried their best to save her.
The SBMCH authority formed a two-member probe committee to investigate the alleged negligence of the doctors in discharging duty and is about to lodge a case with Barisal Kotwali Police Station over the assault on the doctors.