Chhatra Dal submits memorandum to RMCH demanding end to ambulance syndicate

Rajshahi Metropolitan Chhatra Dal has submitted a memorandum to the authorities of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH), demanding an end to the ongoing irregularities, extreme patient suffering and the dominance of the ambulance syndicate on the hospital premises.

The memorandum was handed over to Brigadier General P K M Masud Ul Islam, director of RMCH, at around 11:30am on Wednesday by leaders and activists of the organisation.

In the memorandum, Chhatra Dal leaders highlighted that RMCH is the primary healthcare facility for millions of people in greater Rajshahi and the northern region. The institution's contribution to providing specialised and emergency healthcare services, particularly for the underprivileged, is undeniable. However, in recent times, concerns, dissatisfaction and a crisis of trust have emerged among the general public regarding the hospital's overall environment, administrative management and quality of healthcare services. Due to various mismanagement, manpower shortages and certain dishonest groups, patients and their relatives are facing daily harassment.

The memorandum detailed the hospital's problems, including uncooperative behaviour and negligence in professional duties by some nurses, ward boys and doctors, leading to disrupted services. Outpatients face long waits without receiving desired services, and discrimination exists through irregular access to special benefits. The lack of cleanliness in wards, washrooms and corridors, as well as the poor quality of food provided to patients, was also highlighted.

Doctors not completing ward rounds on time delays diagnosis and treatment. There is an acute bed shortage in critical departments like cardiology and stroke, forcing patients to receive treatment on the floor, and a lack of capacity in specialised units such as ICUs. The unchecked activities of broker networks and the ambulance syndicate have subjected patients and their families to fraud and harassment.

Shortages of necessary oxygen, nebulisation and immediate medical supplies in the emergency department, along with critical medical equipment remaining non-functional for long periods without visible progress in repairs, were also noted. Some Ansar members on security duty have been accused of misbehaving with patients and families and colluding with dishonest groups. The ambulance syndicate has been charging excessive fares, using substandard vehicles and obstructing and misbehaving with those trying to bring ambulances from outside.

To address these issues, Chhatra Dal proposed a nine-point demand, including: launching a 24-hour effective hotline and modern complaint management cell to receive and resolve patient complaints quickly; increasing seating areas, waiting rooms and counters in the outpatient department to ensure equal and transparent healthcare for all; ensuring regular rounds by doctors and discouraging private practice during government duty hours; conducting regular drives with law enforcement to keep the hospital premises free of brokers and syndicates; ensuring overall cleanliness, improving sanitation and ensuring adequate safe drinking water; increasing bed numbers in critical departments, expanding NICU and ICU capacity and quickly repairing non-functional equipment; strengthening security by installing adequate CCTV cameras and taking punitive action against accused Ansar members or employees; and taking permanent and strict administrative measures against broker networks and illegal activities. They also demanded an app-based authorised ambulance system or a regulated private service under hospital supervision with fixed fares to ensure transparent and accountable ambulance services.

After receiving the memorandum, the RMCH director listened to Chhatra Dal's demands and assured them of taking effective initiatives to resolve the issues with utmost priority.

Present at the time were Rakin Raihan Robin, convener of Rajshahi Metropolitan Chhatra Dal; Imdadul Haque Limon, member secretary; Senior Joint Convener Khalid Bin Walid Abir; and other leaders and activists from various educational institutions in Rajshahi.

Separately, government approval has been granted to expand RMCH's bed capacity by 100, taking it from 1,200 to 1,300 beds, which will also allow for the introduction of government-recognised ICU services . The issue of ambulance syndicates has been a long-standing problem at RMCH and other public hospitals across the country, with patients often being held hostage by drivers demanding exorbitant fares .