NAOGAON, June 7: Intern doctors at Naogaon General Hospital have begun an indefinite work stoppage, demanding the withdrawal of a recent government decision regarding FCPS training and the implementation of a six-point charter of demands.
The announcement was made during a human chain programme held in front of the 250-bed Naogaon General Hospital on Sunday noon.
The programme was organised by intern doctors of Naogaon Medical College along with students of the institution.
The protesters voiced strong opposition to decisions taken by the Health Education and Family Welfare Division under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on May 19 regarding FCPS training. They demanded that the decisions be revoked within 48 hours and replaced with a revised directive.
The intern doctors also called for raising the age limit for entry into the BCS Health Cadre to 34 years, enacting a Health Worker Protection Act, and ensuring speedy trial of crimes committed against healthcare workers through special tribunals.
In solidarity with the movement, students of Naogaon Medical College announced an indefinite boycott of classes and examinations.
Among those who addressed the gathering were intern doctors Dr Nadia Binte Kajol, Dr Hasibul Hasan Rakib, Dr Bariul Haidar and Dr Maruf Billah, as well as fifth-year student Anisur Rahman.
Speaking at the programme, second-year student Sabit Bin Alam said the disputed decisions would eventually affect current medical students.
Dr Nadia Binte Kajol said intern doctors play a crucial role in Bangladesh's healthcare system by providing round-the-clock services.
Dr Hasibul Hasan Rakib said intern doctors across the country had jointly decided to continue the work stoppage until the six-point demands were fulfilled.
The demands also include increasing the monthly salary of intern doctors to Tk 30,000 and private trainee doctors to Tk 50,000, introducing a structured pay scale for private-sector physicians, taking legal action against unqualified individuals posing as doctors under a proposed BMDC law, and limiting admission fees for BCPS and Bangladesh Medical University examinations to a maximum of Tk 1,000.
