In a landmark move, Saudi Arabia has greenlit the recruitment of Bangladeshi doctors and nurses, marking a significant milestone in the Kingdom’s healthcare sector. This development heralds the first large-scale recruitment of Bangladesh’s medical professionals by Saudi Arabia, aligning with the bilateral agreement forged in 2022 to bolster healthcare cooperation. As reported by Gulf News, the Bangladesh Medical Association highlights the stark underrepresentation of Bangladeshi doctors among the estimated three million expatriates in Saudi Arabia. The recent policy shift, culminating in the arrival of the inaugural group of healthcare workers in November 2023, aims to bridge this gap. PM Hasina seeks more Saudi investment in Bangladesh Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh, Essa Al Duhailan, addressed the recruitment delay, emphasizing the Kingdom’s commitment to upholding high standards and underscoring the quality-centric approach of the recruitment process. The initial contingent, consisting of approximately 60 doctors, signifies the beginning of a growing influx of Bangladeshi medical talent. “It is just to encourage the market and see how it goes,” Al Duhailan added, indicating a scalable approach to recruitment. Process of inking cooperation deal on judiciary with Saudi Arabia begins: Law Minister In response to a burgeoning demand for nursing staff, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health has initiated recruitment drives in Bangladesh, with plans to deploy over 150 qualified nurses to the Kingdom. This effort is part of a broader strategy to enhance the provision of medical services to Bangladeshi expatriates and to leverage the extensive pool of professionals graduating from Bangladesh’s over 100 medical institutions, the Gulf News report said The Bangladeshi government has pledged to streamline the placement process, ensuring that nurses find suitable positions in both public and private healthcare facilities across Saudi Arabia. This initiative not only promises new opportunities for Bangladeshi healthcare workers but also aims to elevate the standard of care available to the Bangladeshi diaspora. Saudi company to operate Patenga Container Terminal under deal with CPA This partnership is poised to boost remittances, showcase Bangladesh’s capacity to export highly skilled labor, and fortify bilateral ties between the two countries through a shared commitment to healthcare excellence. End/UNB/MB/KW

The strike enforced by doctors in Khulna district hospitals – protesting the attack on a fellow physician, allegedly by a police officer and others – has been postponed this morning for a week. The strike was postponed after three days, following assurance of taking measures in this regard from the authorities concerned. Soon after the postponement, the physicians joined work in respective hospitals.  Dr Baharul Alam, president of Khulna unit of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA), said they postponed the strike for seven days upon assurance from Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Mayor Talukdar Abdul Khaleque and local administration of taking action, including arrest of the accused police officer.  Earlier, a tripartite meeting on the strike was held among the demonstrating physicians, the delegation of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and the local administration this morning. Awami League Organising Secretary SM Kamal was also present in the meeting. After the meeting, BMA leader Baharul came up with the declaration of the postponement around 11:40 am. Read more: 'Attack' on Khulna physician: Patients continue to suffer as doctors' strike drags into 3rd day Earlier on Friday a series of meetings between the physicians and the DGHS delegation were held but no one could reach a point to call off or postpone the strike.  The DGHS delegation led by its Additional Director General (admin) Dr Rasheda Sultana rushed to Khulna from the capital to address the issue on Friday and held several meetings with the physicians. On February 25, Dr Sheikh Nishat Abdullah, head of Burn and Plastic Surgery Department of Sheikh Abu Naser Specialised Hospital, was physically assaulted, allegedly by a patient’s relatives including ASI Naim, at a nursing home in Sheikhpara of Khulna city during surgery. Protesting the attack, BMA Khulna unit went on a 24-hour work abstention from Wednesday to Thursday morning. The physicians continued the strike for three consecutive days to press home their demand. The strike caused immense suffering to hospitalised patients and others who sought medical treatment. On Thursday, ASI Naim was attached to the police lines after withdrawal from his workplace in Satkhira when the allegation of assaulting a physician surfaced.

The High Court on Monday rejected a writ petition seeking appointment of doctors from among the successful candidates of 39th special Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination, saying it won’t intervene in this matter. During hearing of the writ the bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim said it’s a matter of government’s policy and so the court won’t be intervening in the decision of how many doctors will be appointed from which BCS. Senior advocate Yousuf Hossain Humayun and advocate Md Moshiur Rahman presented the petitioners’ side at the court while Deputy Attorney General Bipul Bagmar presented the state side. Also read: Govt appoints 2,000 physicians from 39th BCS On July 29, a writ petition with the court seeking direction on appointing doctors from passed candidates of 39th BCS examination. Advocate Md Moshiur Rahman submitted the petition on behalf of Dr Rafa Md Nurul Islam and 1,360 other passed candidates in the 39th BCS examinations. Advocate Md Moshiur Rahman said, 13,219 candidates were recommended for appointment after passing the final examination of 39th special BCS which was held in 2018. Of them 4,562 were appointed in the health cadre in the first phase and the Public Service Commission (PSC) said others will be appointed later as non-cadre  later as no position was vacant that time. Last year, 2,000 more doctors were appointed from the recommended candidates as Covid-19 situation overwhelmed the health sector. Recently the government announced to appoint 4,000 new doctors in the health sector from the recommended candidates of 42nd special BCS. Also read: HC seeks govt decision on Covid jabs to pregnant women Following which the writ petition was filed seeking direction on appointing new doctors from the left out 6,500 passed candidates of the 39th BCS.

Scores of prominent doctors have urged the government to hike tobacco tax in the budget to protect public health. In a joint statement on Friday, initiated by Dhaka Ahsania Mission, 121 doctors said tobacco was involved in six of the eight leading causes of preventable death worldwide. The statement noted that cigarettes are very cheap and readily available in the market due to the multi-layered tax structure of cigarettes in Bangladesh depending on the features and brands. As a result, consumers are able to choose cheaper cigarettes instead of quitting, and the use of cigarettes has been relatively similar in recent years. The availability of tobacco products must be reduced through tax increases, said the doctors. Also read: Speakers want specific taxes imposed to increase price of tobacco products According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), tobacco users have a 57 percent higher risk of developing tobacco-related diseases such as heart disease, stroke, COPD or lung cancer, and a 109 percent higher risk of other tobacco-related cancers. According to the statement, more than 1,61,000 people die of tobacco-related diseases every year in Bangladesh.

Four physicians and nine nurses of Thakurgaon Sadar Hospital were sent to home quarantine on Wednesday after a woman undergoing treatment at the hospital tested positive for coronavirus.   According to hospital sources, a pregnant woman from Dhaka got admitted to the hospital on April 14. She was suffering from fever and breathing problem.   Later, samples of the patient were sent to the PCR lab of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital on April 18. Test results came out positive on April 21 but the women was discharged from the hospital on April 19 and went to Panchagarh district.   Dr Nadirul Aziz Chapal, supervisor of Thakurgaon Sadar Hospital, said four doctors and nine nurses were sent to home quarantine.   Their samples were taken for coronavirus testing, he said.

Large-scale infection of healthcare professionals can worsen the current situation of the Coronavirus outbreak in Bangladesh, as the country suffers from an acute shortage of such workers, compounded by their maldistribution.    The number of infected health workers has increased manifold alongside the surging overall caseload in Bangladesh.   Around 100 healthcare professionals, including 54 doctors, tested positive for Covid-19 in the country as of April 14, according to Bangladesh Doctors’ Foundation (BDF). This number has likely increased further since then.    BDF founder and Chief Administrator Dr Nirupam Das said two doctors are undergoing treatment in ICUs while one has died so far.   Most of the doctors infected were in Dhaka and Narayanganj—two major clusters of community transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes Covid-19.   Dr Nirupam also said more than 300 healthcare professionals are currently in home-quarantine.    The figures on April 14 marked a threefold rise in the number of infected healthcare professionals in just a few days.

Eleven people, including three doctors and several hospital staff, have been sent on home-quarantine after they came in contact with a youth who tested positive for coronavirus in Matlab Uttar upazila.   District Civil Surgeon Dr Shawkat Hossain said the youth, 32, along with his wife was sent to isolation unit of Matlab Uttar Health Complex.