Ensure emergency treatment of road crash victims at all hospitals

The High Court yesterday ordered the health ministry to issue a gazette notification containing the guidelines for ensuring emergency medical services to road crash victims and protecting 'good samaritans'.

Modifying the guidelines formulated by the health ministry this year, the HC said the ministry will have to issue the gazette notification in two months after receiving the copy of the judgment.

The court also directed the government to ensure emergency medical services to road accident victims at all public and private hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and medical centres across the country.

It said the guidelines will remain in force until a law is formulated to this effect.

The HC bench of Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed and Justice Farid Ahmed delivered the verdict, after hearing a writ petition jointly filed by Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) and Saif Kamal -- founder of Toru, an institute for innovation and entrepreneurship.

They submitted the petition in February 2016 following a report published in The Daily Star on January 24, 2016 under the headline “Hearts of stone” that narrated how three private hospitals had refused to provide treatment to a bus driver's helper Arif before his death.

According to the report, Saif had tried to ensure treatment from three private hospitals for Arif, who fell from a bus on Airport Road near Banani in the capital. Arif later died of his injuries.

Following the petition, the HC on February 10, 2016 directed the government to take necessary steps for providing emergency medical services to all critically injured persons at the government hospitals and private clinics across the country.

The court also asked health secretary to formulate guidelines for management of such emergency services and measures to create public awareness of such services through print and electronic media.

The health ministry recently submitted the guidelines titled “Sarak Durghatanay Ahoto Byaktir Joruri Swastha Seba Nishchitkoron O Sohayatakarir Surokkha Prodan Neetimala, 2018” (Guideline for ensuring emergency medical services to injured persons in road accidents and protection of aide, 2018), to the HC through the attorney general's office.

Barrister Sara Hossain, Barrister Rashna Imam, Barrister Anita Gazi Rahman and Advocate Sharmin Aktar appeared for the petitioners, while Deputy Attorney General Kazi Zinat Hoque represented the government.