Rangpur Bureau

The Doctors' Society held a press conference in Rangpur to demand 5-points. The press conference was held on Monday afternoon at the hall room on the 4th floor of Rangpur Medical College by all general students and doctors from all walks of life.

It was informed at the press conference that the doctors' society and medical students from all over the country have been protesting for the past few days to protect the common people of Bangladesh from malpractice and ensure good treatment and restore discipline in the health sector, to protect the dignity of the medical profession. These 5-point demands of the doctors are that no one other than those with MBBS/BDS degrees will be able to use the title 'Doctor' before their name and all the writs against the law and public health in the court should be disposed of by March 12, no misleading title called "Diploma Doctor" can be introduced in Bangladesh, which does not exist in the World Health Organization or anywhere in the world. A notification should be issued stating that "No one other than a registered doctor (MBBS/BDS) can independently practice private practice."

Within the next 7 working days, a Medical Assistant Course Curriculum Reform Committee should be formed to re-determine their course curriculum and a special campaign should be conducted to close all substandard MATS (Medical Assistant Training Schools). To ensure public health services, an adequate number of doctors should be appointed to vacant posts and the BCS age limit for doctors should be increased to 34 years. A doctor protection law should be enacted without delay and a specific pay scale should be formulated for private doctors.

It was informed at the press conference that the BMDC and the Ministry of Health have been urged to take immediate effective steps to implement the 5-point demands raised by the medical community. Otherwise, the medical community will be forced to move towards a more stringent movement in the coming days.

The press conference was addressed by Dr. Abu Zahid Basunia, Assistant Professor of the Cardiology Department of Rangpur Medical College Hospital, Trainee (Medicine) FCPS Part-2 Dr. Taskin Bin Mahmud, Trainee (Surgery) FCPS Part-2 Dr. Farhad Akhtar, Intern Physician Dr. Abu Raihan, among others.