Patients suffer as interns on strike

Patients leaving Rajshahi Medical College Hospital after interns start indefinite strike demanding increase of allowance yesterday, top, interns at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital form a human chain. Photo: Banglar Chokh

Interns at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) went on an indefinite strike yesterday to press for increasing their monthly allowance to Tk 10,000 from Tk 6,500, causing sufferings of patients and prompting many to leave the hospital.
Interns at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital also observed two-hour work abstention yesterday demanding similar increase in allowance.
Our Staff Correspondent reports from Rajshahi: The interns at RMCH will continue their strike until their demand is met, said a leader of the interns.
RMCH authorities released a number of the patients yesterday while many others left the hospital.
Rasheda, an elderly woman from Nagarbari in Pabna, was admitted to the hospital one week ago, but was released suddenly in the morning, said Rasheda's son Tomal.
She was asked to get herself admitted again one week later, he said.
During a visit to the hospital at around 2:00pm, this correspondent saw many patients leaving the hospital.
The striking intern doctors said they called upon the colleagues at government medical college hospitals in Rangpur and Dinajpur to observe the strike from today.
Our Mymensingh correspondent adds: Interns at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital observed two-hour work abstention, formed a human chain in front of the Emergency Ward and submitted a memorandum to the authorities yesterday.
Urging the authorities to meet the demand by March 1, they warned of daylong work abstention on March 2 and indefinite strike from March 4.