Health professionals form new platform to press for rights, reforms

Leaders of several health professional organisations today announced a new platform, Jatiya Swasthya Peshajibi Oikya, bringing together nurses, midwives, pharmacists, sub-assistant community medical officers, and medical technologists to press for their professional rights and health sector reforms.

The announcement was made at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka, says a press release.

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The umbrella platform has been formed with representatives of the Bangladesh Nurses Association, Bangladesh Diploma Nurses Association, Bangladesh Midwifery Society, Bangladesh Diploma Medical Association, Bangladesh Diploma Pharmacists Association, Bangladesh Dental Council and leaders of medical technologists, according to a statement issued by the organisers.

The newly formed alliance said these health professionals have long been neglected and discriminated against despite playing an important role in providing healthcare, preventing diseases and responding to public health emergencies.

The platform welcomed the government’s plan to recruit one lakh health workers and its broader initiative to strengthen the health sector from ward and union-level facilities to medical college hospitals and specialised institutions. It expressed hope that the plan would be implemented effectively.

The alliance placed six demands.

The platform demanded Grade-10 status for pharmacists, sub-assistant community medical officers and medical technologists, implementation of the nursing directorate’s organogram and promotions based on qualifications and experience.

It also called for a separate professional council for medical technologists, recruitment of health professionals in proportion to doctors in line with WHO guidelines, modern education and training, recognition of higher qualifications, and an end to discrimination.