Interns at Pabna Medical College Hospital on strike

Interns at Pabna Medical College Hospital (PMCH) went on an indefinite strike yesterday, protesting assault on two of their fellows by relatives of a patient who had died at the hospital.

Interns and doctors formed a human chain at the entrance to the hospital in the morning, demanding arrest and punishment of the attackers.

Hospital sources said Hena Bibi, 80, wife of Ashraf Ali of Gobinda in the district town, was admitted to the hospital with breathing problem on Sunday night. She died at around 1:30am yesterday. Relatives got furious after her death and assaulted the on-duty interns, Mokaram Hossain and Shikha Pahan, at the hospital, alleging improper cardiac treatment. 

"The patient was in a critical condition and she was given proper treatment, unfortunately she could not survive," claimed the assaulted doctors.

Immediately after the incident, the interns at the hospital decided to continue work abstention until their demand is met.

"Interns are often harassed at the hospital over the death of patients and other issues," Abu Torab Meem, president of  PMCH unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League said, adding that the interns will continue strike until their security is ensured at the workplace.

Dr Shamol Kumar Pal, acting assistant director of PMCH, said they informed the police immediately but the attackers managed to escape.

"We are trying to solve the problem through discussions with the interns," Dr Pal said, adding that around 50 interns work at the hospital. The strike will cause sufferings for the patients, but the duty doctors and nurses have been kept on alert to run the services smoothly, he added.