Many patients with breathing difficulties requiring emergency medical attention at hospitals are being refused admission allegedly fearing transmission of coronavirus.
Such unethical and immoral practice is going on in both at public and private hospitals despite strict warnings of taking action against such inhuman acts.
Attendants of many of the patients alleged that although 95 percent of the beds remain vacant, patients with corona-like symptoms are not being admitted in private hospitals.
Sixty-three-year Monowara Begum from Sylhet had to visit door to door for admission in six city private hospitals for treatment of her breathing difficulties. She was refused admission by all six hospitals and later she died inside an ambulance.
When relatives finally took her to Osmani Medical College Hospital doctors said she was no longer alive.
Another patient – Shafiul Alam Chagir in Chattogram was rejected by three hospitals and after being refused admission she succumbed to death without any treatment who was also a general secretary of Awami League’s Bayzid Thana chapter.
Many such patients are dying without proper treatment yet the authorities concerned remain silent. There neither any vigilance nor any action against such illegal practice of refusing critically ill patients.
A report of Dhaka University's Centre for Genocide Studies found between March 22 and June 6 --- 861 people died showing coronavirus symptoms. According to their latest report, roughly 737 people died of Covid-19-like symptoms from March 22 to May 30.
Dr Moshiur Rahaman said, “They (hospital authorities) are disobeying government instructions. In such a situation attendants of many victims are questioning how best to address the problem of saving such critically ill patients.”
In this regard, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Vice-Chancellor Professor Kanak Kanti Barua said, “It is very sad indeed that doctors are refusing critically ill patients without treatment.”
He also said that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital does not refuse any patient.
Private Hospital, Clinic and Diagnostic Owners Association President Professor Moniruzzaman Bhuiyan said, “We would take action against those hospitals which refused patients.”
Talking to Bangladesh Post, Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) Secretary General Dr Ehteshamul Haque Chowdhury Dulal said, “There are about 1.5 lakh beds in government and private hospitals across the country. Of these, there are 52,807 beds available in public hospitals.”
He said there are 90,000 government and private doctors. Of these, 30,000 are government and the rest 40,000 are private. The remaining 20,000 doctors practice privately while about 10 thousand doctors are retired.