A patient in critical condition being shifted from a hospital on Sunday as owners of private clinics and diagnostic centres in Chattogram stopped their services following a raid conducted by RAB on three hospitals, including Max Hospital where an infant died due to alleged negligence a few days ago — Focus Bangla CHATTOGRAM, Jul 8: Private hospital owners in the port city of Chattogram called a halt to their services to new patients on Sunday for an indefinite period.
The decision came in protest against the raids on some private health service outlets, including the Max Hospital, by mobile teams of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
Private Hospital and Lab Owners Association General Secretary Dr Liaquat Ali Khan made the announcement on Sunday at an emergency meeting at the port city's Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) office.
Dr Liaquat Ali Khan, also managing director of the Max Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, told the media that patients already under treatment at different hospitals would be provided with health care services.
Private practitioners will also be able to provide care at the Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH), if necessary.
BMA Chattogram President Dr Mujibul Haque Khan also expressed his solidarity with the decision made by the private hospital owners.
Executive magistrate Sarwar Alam conducted a mobile court aided by RAB members at the Max Hospital at 11:30 AM.
He fined the hospital authorities Tk 1.0 million (Tk 10 lakh) for different irregularities. Dr Dewan Mahmud Mehdi Hasan was present as the representative of the Directorate General of Health Services.
Another RAB team conducted raids at the Metropolitan Hospital on the O R Nizam Road and the CSCR Hospital near the Prabortak intersection in the city.
Leaders of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh in Chattogram expressed their concern at the decision of halting health services to patients for an indefinite period at the private hospitals and clinics.
In a statement to the press, the leaders said it was the duty of the RAB to conduct raids on different health service outlets in the greater interest of the people.
If the private hospital owners had any grievance, they could raise it with the local administration or the other proper authorities in the government, the statement said.
It was inhuman and violation of basic rights of the common people to suspend health services to the patients without any prior notice, it added.
Announcing an ultimatum, the doctors supported by both the ruling Awami League and the opposition BNP halted services to patients, it stated.
They held the patients hostage. It was not a correct decision of the private hospital owners, it said.
The statement was signed by CAB central vice president SM Nazer Hossain, general secretary for Chattogram Division Kazi Iqbal Bahar Sabery, CAB Chattogram city unit president Jesmin Sultana Paru, general secretary Ajoy Mitra Shanku, president of the south district unit Abdul Mannan and youth unit president KNM Riyad.
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