Medical services at all government and private hospitals in Khulna district have been hampered since this morning as doctors went on a 24-hour work abstention protesting the attack on a fellow physician. The doctors at outpatient departments of government hospitals and at private hospitals went on work abstention from 6 am today and will continue till 6 am tomorrow. On February 25, Dr Sheikh Nishat Abdullah, head of Burn and Plastic Surgery Department of Shaheed Sheikh Abu Naser Specialized Hospital was physically assaulted, allegedly by a patient’s relatives including Assistant Sub-inspector Naim posted in Satkhira district police, at a nursing home in Sheikhpara of Khulna city during surgery. Protesting the attack, Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA), Khulna decided to observe 24-hour work abstention from this morning to Thursday morning. Also read: Workers of 8 municipalities go on work abstention; services halted in Natore Dr Sheikh Baharul Alam, president of BMA Khulna unit, announced the work abstention programme while speaking at a press briefing at Kazi Azharul Haque Auditorium on Tuesday. While reading out the statement, Dr Baharul also demanded the arrest of the attackers.    

Sonagazi Health Complex, the lone medical centre for about five lakh people of the upazila in Feni district, is unable to provide proper medical services due to its manpower crunch and crumbling infrastructures. Although the health complex was upgraded to a 50-bed one from a 31-bed one in 2014, its manpower, infrastructures and equipment remained unchanged. According to sources at the hospital, the ceiling plasters of the hospital’s administrative building keep falling off regularly as it was built in 1977. Read: BGMEA continues supporting Covid dedicated hospitals Patients are provided medical services in shabby structures as people from nine unions and one municipality of the upazila visit it for treatment.   The medical services of its emergency unit and women's and children's wards are carried out on the ground floor of the two-storey building due to the space crisis. Its physicians and staff are working with a sense of insecurity as plasters are falling off from its ceilings, while its walls and pillars have developed cracks and most of its doors and windows got broken. Read Covid-19 in Bangladesh: Big medical bills making many people paupers Sadequl Karim, a doctor at its emergency unit, said the hospital needs to be renovated or it should have a new building to offer better medical services to the residents of the unpazila. “One of the major problems this hospital faces is the shortage of doctors and other staff. Everybody is overworked,” he bemoaned. This hospital, he says, sees a footfall of 250-300 patients in its outdoor section on average every day while 60-70 get admitted to the hospital a day. But they have to stay on the floor due to a serious bed crisis, Karima added. Read Photos showing how hospitals in Bangladesh struggling with dengue patients amid covid surge

People of Magura have lost hope of getting proper health services in the district. As a result, serious patients are taken to Faridpur or Jashore for treatment. In three upazilas, there are three 50-bed upazila health complexes but the services are not up to the mark. Even patients at Magura Medical College Hospital (MMCH) at the Sadar upazila are not getting proper treatment. In 2017, to meet the demand of increasing patients in the district 100-bed MMCH was upgraded with 250 beds and advanced equipment. A manager was also appointed. But its services have not developed over the years. Though the hospital has ICU ward, ventilators and central oxygen system but coronavirus affected patients are not getting the minimum treatment facility they need. The ICU ward, ventilators and central oxygen system- all were seen locked up. Besides, the scarcity of staff and doctors have made the treatment quality even poorer.   There are allegations that doctors transferred to MMCH often go elsewhere (district) over lobbying. District Civil Surgeon Dr. Shahidullah Dewan said about the manpower crisis in the hospital. He also said that steps were being taken to solve this problem. The people of Magura district hope the authority will take necessary steps in developing the quality of medical services, during this pandemic.

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) will launch Covid-19 telemedicine services from early Friday at its five maternity centres to provide 24/7 medical services and novel coronavirus-related information. To provide twenty-four-hour service in each maternity centre, three doctors will be available on a rotation basis. The service will continue until further notice. Also read: Covid-19: Telemedicine service launched for govt officials The maternity centres are run under DNCC's Urban Primary Healthcare Services Delivery Project in Moghbazar, Mohammadpur, Mirpur-1, Pallabi, and Uttara. Also read: Coronavirus: One lakh RMG workers to get free telemedicine service

The government has planned to spend Tk 935.81 billion up to 2022-23 fiscal year starting from the current one for the heath sector development as it is committed to taking healthcare facilities to the doorsteps of people.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday alleged that people are being deprived of medical services as the country’s health sector has collapsed due to corruption by the "government".

Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque on Sunday urged medical students to provide quality medical services to the marginal people with honesty and patriotism.