Rajshahi Medical College interns go on work abstention

Interns at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) went on an indefinite work abstention this morning (21 October), pressing for five demands, including resolving shortages of medical supplies and ensuring their security.

Dr Mushfiqur Rahman, general secretary of the hospital’s Intern Doctors Society, said the interns started the work abstention at 8am.

He said the hospital’s inpatient wards were facing an acute shortage of essential medicines and medical equipment, while unrestricted entry of patients’ attendants and negligence by Ansar members on duty were frequently exposing intern doctors to unwanted situations, including mob attacks.

The society’s leaders said several intern doctors had received death threats. One female intern was allegedly forced to leave a ward in civilian clothes after being threatened by a patient’s relatives.

The closure of the hospital’s observation room and casualty department has also increased pressure on inpatient wards, forcing doctors to struggle to provide treatment with limited manpower and medical supplies, Dr Mushfiqur added.

He said the hospital authorities had repeatedly assured them that the problems would be addressed but had taken no effective steps, leaving the interns with no option but to go on work abstention.

The interns’ five-point demands are ensuring adequate supplies of medicines and medical equipment in inpatient wards, guaranteeing the security of intern doctors, allowing a maximum of two attendants per patient to enter the hospital, ensuring the active presence of Ansar members in all wards on the day of admission and the following day, and immediately reopening the emergency department.

Dr SM Tupu, president of the Intern Doctors Society, warned that the interns would announce stricter programmes if their demands were not met.

However, Dr Sheikh Shamim Ahmed, spokesperson for RMCH, said the work abstention had not significantly affected medical services in the wards.

He said the hospital director was meeting with intern doctors to resolve the issues and expressed hope the situation would be settled soon.