Outpatient services resume in full swing at DMCH, Suhrawardy hospital

The outpatient services at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) and Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital resumed in full swing on Wednesday (4 September).

DMCH director Brigadier General Asaduzzaman Khan confirmed UNB over the resumption of outpatient services.

Visiting the hospital, it was found that the emergency department was crowded with patients.

Although operations had partially resumed after the shutdown on 1 September, the director said that the emergency and outpatient departments are now fully operational due to enhanced security.

Meanwhile, the director of Suhrawardy Hospital, Harunur Rashid, said, "Our emergency department is fully operational. On 2 September, the outpatient department was partially operational, and on the second day, 3 September, it was slightly less. However, from this morning, it has been fully operational based on security considerations."

He said they have received 25 police personnel, but their demand is for a total of 40 police personnel to strengthen security further.

Regarding the death of patient Rabeya Akhter on 1 September, which has raised questions about patient care, he stated, "The patient's relatives misunderstood the situation and behaved rudely with us. Later, we clarified the matter and resolved it mutually. There is no further issue with them regarding this. Our doctors had no fault."

On 31 August, a patient died at DMCH, after which agitated relatives alleged negligence on the part of the doctors and assaulted three of them on the hospital premises, prompting the doctors to call a strike.

They withdrew their call for a 'complete shutdown' of medical services across the country on 1 September upon assurances from the health adviser to the interim government of security and arrest of the individuals who manhandled the doctors.

Subsequently, two arrests were made, and security was beefed up.