Doctors' strike leaves critical patients without care at DMCH

Mahfuz Rahman arrived at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) with his sister, who is battling blood cancer. Accompanied by their elderly parents, the family reached the hospital around noon today (1 August), hoping for urgent medical care. Instead, they were met with a grim reality—the hospital's emergency services were closed due to a doctors' strike.

"I came from Lakshmipur three days ago. For the last two days, we went to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), but they didn't admit my sister. They told us to come to DMCH," said a weary Mahfuz "But when we got here, there was no service, no treatment."

With tears streaming down his face, Mahfuz pointed to his sister and said, "She is suffering badly from blood cancer. She needs urgent treatment, but we aren't getting any."

He continued, "We wanted to bring her sooner, but flooding in our area prevented us. We couldn't watch her suffer anymore, so we managed to bring her here. The journey was hard on her, and her pain only grew when we arrived and found no treatment. We had to wait on the road with her, unable to get the care she needed."

Mahfuz's elderly parents, also in distress, cried with him. His father, barely able to speak, whispered, "We just want treatment for my daughter. She is in pain," before breaking down further.

Mahfuz's family is not alone. Hundreds of critical patients also suffered due to the doctors' strike today. However, the nationwide strike was later suspended until 8pm tomorrow (2 August), under certain conditions.

Shilpi Khatun left Madaripur early in the morning to bring her father, who has throat cancer, to BSMMU. The doctor there urgently recommended that her father be admitted to DMCH for surgery, warning that he could die from respiratory failure at any moment.

By 9am today, Shilpi had arrived at DMCH's emergency department with her father, but by 4pm, she was still sitting helplessly, unable to get him admitted.

Tearfully, Shilpi said, "When we arrived at nine, there were no doctors in the emergency department, and no one was admitting patients. If my father isn't admitted, he won't get the surgery he needs, and without the surgery, he can't be saved."

She asked, "We are just ordinary people. We haven't done anything wrong, so why aren't we receiving medical care?"

Marium Begum travelled over 160km, changing vehicles several times with her sick husband, hoping to find better medical care in Dhaka after local treatment failed. 

"My husband has liver complications. We came to Dhaka for treatment, but after hours of trying, I still couldn't get him admitted," Marium told TBS outside DMCH.

Meanwhile, Habiba arrived at DMCH with her seriously ill pregnant daughter-in-law, who had been referred from Narsingdi District Hospital. After waiting for hours without treatment, they were left stranded in an ambulance. 

"My daughter-in-law is in critical condition because her water broke. I don't know what to do. My son has gone to plead with the doctors, hoping they will provide at least some care to save my daughter-in-law and unborn grandchild," Habiba said.

No patients waiting for treatment received any care at DMCH until Sunday evening. Many had arrived by ambulance and were forced to seek help at other hospitals. Some were seen sitting on the hospital floor, unable to go home due to their condition.

On Saturday, three neurosurgery doctors were assaulted and the emergency department was vandalised. The doctors reviewed CCTV footage, identified the culprits, and demanded their arrest within 24 hours. When the culprits were not arrested, they went on strike, halting emergency services from Sunday morning.

Later in the day, doctors agreed to suspend their nationwide strike until 8pm Monday after Health and Family Welfare Adviser Nurjahan Begum promised to arrest those responsible for the attack within 24 hours.

"Within the next 24 hours, only emergency department services will be provided, with each duty doctor receiving security from a law enforcement officer," doctors said at a press briefing in front of the DMCH administration building yesterday after a meeting with the adviser.

"Indoor and outdoor medical services will be suspended but ICU and HDU services will continue," they added.