The chaotic situation that aggravated with involvement of the leaders of the ruling party affiliated intern physicians however came to an end bringing relief to the nation yesterday as the interns called-off the strike after the Health Minister announced withdrawal of punishment of four intern doctors. The decision came after an emergency meeting with the intern doctors’ representatives in the capital. Earlier intern doctors of Bogra Medical College Hospital went on the strike protesting suspension of their four colleagues over assaulting the relative of a patient on February 19.
The strike started with the suspension of the four by the Health Minister alongwith the order to move to other public hospitals to continue the internship after six months. Now the government has withdrawn the punishment and the situation at public hospitals returns normal. But question arises why the interns were punished and why they assaulted the relative of a heart patient at least three times in the hospital who apparently did not hurt them anyway except addressing a female intern doctor as ‘sister’ who took it as a diminutive language.
It appears the interns were punished based on an investigation by an Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Health but they turned down the inquiry report saying it was not done properly. Now the interns will not have to suffer but they caused big suffering to the nation leaving behind the question why patients or their relatives should come under physical assault in hospital wards and premises where decent behaviour and cooperation to people coming for treatment should have been at work. Such ugly incidents like beating of visitors are taking place very often in public hospitals throughout the country to raise question what is wrong with our younger doctors. Patients or their relatives may be at fault at times but they often do it with duress and doctors must be rather well trained to handle the situation.
In fact hatred and intolerance are increasingly dominating the mindset of many of our younger physicians showing more cruelty than fellow feeling and demonstration of physical might and superiority instead of serving patients with dedication. In our view our young physicians must be helpful to people and learn to serve them with selfless spirit.
