Intern doctors call off strike after government assurances

Intern and postgraduate trainee doctors have withdrawn their ongoing work abstention and class boycott programmes following assurances from the government over six key demands, including increased stipends and payment for private trainees.

The decision was announced in a joint statement after a meeting held on Monday at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) conference room, attended by the Health Services Division Secretary, the Director General of Health Services, and the Director General of the Directorate General of Medical Education.

According to the statement, all parties reached consensus on several issues during the talks. It was agreed that all private trainees who have passed the FCPS Part-I and MD/MS (Phase-I) examinations will receive regular monthly stipends.

It was also decided that stipends for intern doctors and postgraduate trainees will be increased proportionately in line with the implementation strategy of the new national pay scale.

The meeting further agreed to take initiatives in consultation with stakeholders for the formulation of a proposed Health Protection Act. The authorities also agreed to recommend consideration of raising the entry age limit for recruitment into the BCS Health Cadre.

In addition, the Ministry of Health will extend necessary cooperation to rationalise examination fees of the Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons (BCPS) and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).

The meeting also decided to engage stakeholders in developing a dignified salary structure for entry-level doctors working in private hospitals, clinics, and medical colleges.

The joint statement said that the agreed decisions will be implemented within seven working days, following which the representatives of intern and postgraduate doctors decided to withdraw their ongoing protest programmes.

The doctors had been staging demonstrations over the past several days at various medical colleges and hospitals across the country, partially disrupting healthcare services in some areas. The withdrawal of the strike has eased the ongoing impasse in the healthcare sector.

TZ