Demanding a hike in their monthly stipends to Tk 50,000 from Tk 20,000, postgraduate private trainee doctors have stopped working in public hospitals across the nation from Saturday.
They also demanded regular payment of their stipends.
Due to the strike, authorities of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) said they have been struggling with usual patient care services.
As part of their demonstration, Post Graduate Private Trainee Doctors Association (PGPTDA) organised a sit-in programme on the Shaheed Minar premises in Dhaka around Saturday noon.
Organisers said around 8,500 doctors, who serve in different public medical colleges and health institutions, have joined the movement.
"We have been in negotiation with all the authorities and professional bodies concerned for the past six months. But we got no satisfactory response. We will continue our work abstention until the government issues a gazette hiking our stipend," Dr Zabir Hossain, president of the association, said while addressing the event.
Postgraduate trainee physicians are medical school graduates who pursue further specialised training in a specific medical field for 2-5 years to achieve higher degrees.
Their role is to provide direct patient care under the supervision of attending physicians, gain practical experience and refine their clinical skills.
They are not allowed to engage in private practice and are supposed to be on duty round-the-clock.
"We have a significant number of private postgraduate doctors. We are having trouble to maintain regular patient services, particularly at a time when there is a dengue surge in the city," said Brig Gen Dr Nazmul Islam, director of the DMCH.
He said they have informed the high-ups in the ministry of health and family welfare about the situation. "They are concerned about the issue," he added.
Agitating doctors, meanwhile, said they have no choice but to live a miserable life with the poor amount of allowances.
They started their demonstration from last month to press home their demand which also includes the payment of the arrears.
