A protest procession and rally were held on Monday against alleged irregularities, corruption and harassment of patients and their attendants at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital.

The protesters also raised concerns over various difficulties patients face in accessing healthcare services at the hospital.

The procession began at 2pm from Sylhet Registry Field and passed through various city roads before ending at the Sylhet Central Shaheed Minar, where a brief rally was held.

Maulana Lokman Ahmed, president of the Sylhet District Road Transport Owners’ Association, spoke at the rally along with leaders of various organisations and representatives of different sections of society.

The protesters said Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital is one of the main sources of healthcare for poor and disadvantaged people. As the largest government healthcare institution in Sylhet division, the hospital receives a large number of patients every day from Sylhet and various districts in the northeastern region.

However, they alleged that patients and their attendants have long been facing irregularities, harassment and various difficulties at the hospital.

They said patients and their attendants face problems at various stages after entering the hospital, particularly when taking patients to the emergency department, completing registration and admission procedures, transferring them to wards, undergoing medical tests and using lifts.

These problems further increase the suffering of seriously ill patients and their attendants, they said.

The speakers also said various management and infrastructural shortcomings are adding to patients’ difficulties.

They alleged that the hospital does not have enough trolleys to transport patients and faces a shortage of lifts. They also pointed to difficulties in accessing the emergency department and alleged harassment during various administrative procedures.

The protesters called on the relevant authorities to take effective steps to address the problems.

They demanded that no patient or attendant seeking treatment at the government hospital be subjected to harassment, negligence or irregularities.

They also called for a patient-friendly environment at every level of the hospital and for simplifying the process of receiving healthcare services.

The speakers further demanded an end to irregularities and corruption at the hospital, measures to prevent harassment of patients and their attendants, improvement of the emergency department’s service environment, adequate trolleys and lifts, and ensuring that patients can undergo tests and be transferred to wards without unnecessary difficulties.

They said Osmani Medical College Hospital remains a trusted institution for people in greater Sylhet and the northeastern region because of the sincerity and expertise of its doctors.

The relevant authorities should therefore take prompt and effective measures to improve the quality of services at the hospital and end patients’ suffering and harassment, they said.

The speakers also expressed dissatisfaction over electricity and gas shortages in Sylhet, restrictions on the movement of battery-operated autorickshaws and easybikes, demands for higher wages by tea workers, the rehabilitation of hawkers and the poor condition of roads in the city.