Chittagong Correspondent::
Intern doctors at Chittagong Medical College (CMC) Hospital are observing an indefinite 'complete shutdown' program to achieve five demands for health sector reforms. They started the program from 8 am on Sunday (February 23) at the call of the Intern Doctors Council.
Stating that the health sector has been turned into a theater, a notice sent by the Intern Medical Council said, "By postponing the High Court verdict for the 90th time on February 19, the health sector has been turned into a theater. We strongly condemn and protest against this."
The Ertan doctors said that in solidarity with all medical colleges across the country, a complete shutdown has been announced at Chamek Hospital for an indefinite period until the full verdict and five-point demands are met.
Five demands of intern doctors:
No one can prescribe medicine without MBBS/BDS - This law made on the basis of the higher law of BMDC should be implemented immediately and MBBS/BDS doctors should be banned from providing treatment without BMDC registration. In addition, BMDC registration should be stopped for students who passed the 2010 government mats.
The OTC drug list should be updated to be compatible with the medical system of this subject. No one except MBBS/BDS will be able to prescribe drugs outside the OTC list. Workplaces will not be able to provide any treatment outside the OTC list without the prescription of registered doctors.
Proper investment planning in the health sector should be done. All vacant posts should be filled by appointing 50,000 doctors. Regional health commissions should be formed and frontline doctors should be appointed as before. The balance of the health sector should be maintained by appointing 8 to 10,000 doctors every year. At the same time, the BCS activities in the health sector should be expedited.
All medical assistant training schools and secondary government and private medical colleges should be closed. MATS students who have already passed should be allowed to work only as medical assistants while retaining the SACMO designation. And the Doctors Protection Act should be implemented.
