Intern doctors strike at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital over safety, medicine shortages

Intern doctors at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) began a 24-hour strike on Wednesday, demanding better security, adequate medical supplies and immediate action to ease pressure on overcrowded wards.

The work stoppage began at 8 am, Dr SM Topu, president of the hospital's Intern Doctors Society, confirmed.

The doctors announced the strike in an emergency notice issued Tuesday, citing an acute shortage of essential medicines and medical equipment in inpatient wards.

They also alleged persistent harassment and threats from patients' relatives, blaming unrestricted visitor access and negligence by Ansar personnel assigned to hospital security.

Several intern doctors have received threats, the notice said.

Female interns have even been forced to leave wards in civilian clothes to avoid intimidation by patients' relatives, it added.

The doctors said the closure of the observation room and casualty department had further overwhelmed inpatient wards, leaving them struggling to manage the patient load.

They accused hospital authorities of repeatedly promising solutions without taking effective action.

The interns have placed five demands: adequate medicines and medical equipment in inpatient wards, improved security for doctors, a maximum of two visitors per patient, active deployment of Ansar personnel across wards during and after admissions, and immediate reopening of the casualty department.

The Intern Doctors Society warned that it would announce tougher protests if the hospital authorities failed to address the demands within the stipulated period.

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