RMCH, CMCH intern doctors begin complete shutdown

The intern doctors at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) and Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) initiated a complete shutdown starting from 12pm on Saturday (23 February), demanding the full implementation and gazette notification of their five-point charter demands.

The RMCH intern doctors said they joined the strike following the nationwide movement, halting all hospital services and boycotting classes, exams, and other academic activities at the medical college.

"The strike is being observed in all medical hospitals across the country starting from 12pm," said Dr Abdullah, president of the Intern Doctors' Forum at RMCH.

Moreover, students from the first to the fifth year of the Rajshahi Medical College have expressed solidarity with the intern doctors, deciding to boycott classes, exams, and all academic activities.

They said the protest would continue until all five demands were met and officially gazetted.

Meanwhile, the CMCH authorities claimed medical services at the hospital had not been disrupted due to the shutdown called by intern doctors.

"Intern doctors across the country are on strike, demanding an end to the use of the 'doctor' title by medical assistants. While the intern doctors at CMCH called for a complete shutdown as part of this, medical services are continuing uninterrupted. Our doctors are on duty in every ward," said Brigadier General Taslim Uddin, director of CMCH.

Meanwhile, the intern doctors held a human chain programme in front of the hospital at 12pm.

During the program, they demanded that only MBBS and BDS degree holders in Bangladesh should be allowed to use the "Doctor" title.

They alleged that medical assistants' misuse of the "Doctor" title has led to improper treatments, deteriorating the country's healthcare system. Patients are being deceived, and MBBS doctors are being defamed.

The protesting intern doctors urged the authorities to take immediate action to prohibit medical assistants from using the "Doctor" title.