Trainee medical assistants announce academic shutdown over unmet demands

Students of the Medical Assistant Training School (MATS) have announced an "academic shutdown" across all MATS institutions in the country, starting from this morning.

The shutdown is part of a new course of action in response to the government's failure to fulfil key promises.

At a press conference held at the National Press Club today, Mohammad Hasibul Islam Shanto (Hasib), a student of MATS, declared the shutdown under the banner of the "General MATS Students Unity Council."

Hasib said, "The health ministry had promised last month to fulfil four demands, including the immediate recruitment to vacant positions in the 10th grade. However, since this promise has not been fulfilled in a timely manner, we have no choice but to proceed with this course of action.

"Starting tomorrow (today), academic activities will be suspended indefinitely. In addition to the shutdown, a human chain will be staged in front of educational institutions, leaflets will be distributed in districts, and protests will take place," he added.

The students' demands also include creation of new posts in both government and private hospitals as well as community clinics, renaming of related institutions and courses, correcting the inconsistent curriculum, and establishing a logbook for internships.

Additionally, they are calling for the right to higher education in clinical subjects recognised by the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC). 

Lastly, they demand that the proposed Allied Health Professional Board draft law be changed to the "Medical Education Board of Bangladesh" with the implementation of the proposed amendments.

At the press conference, the student highlighted that there are currently 16 government MATS institutions and nearly 200 private MATS-related institutions across Bangladesh offering the curriculum. 

Diploma in Medical Faculty (DMF) degree holders are employed as "Sub-Assistant Community Medical Officers" under the health ministry.

They noted that there are approximately 60,000 diploma medical students and about 30,000 BMDC-registered DMFs in the country. The health ministry reported that around 5,500 diploma doctors are currently working in positions such as sub-assistant community medical officers in upazila health complexes, union sub-health centres, and district hospitals.

Despite vacant positions, recruitment for these roles has been halted for over a decade. The Directorate General of Health Services has nearly 2,000 vacant positions, and the Directorate General of Family Planning has about 1,000 vacant posts, but recruitment has been delayed, even though clearance has been granted, the students added.

Additionally, the students mentioned an ongoing case in the High Court to secure the rights of DMF degree holders. They condemned the medical students' strikes, meetings, and protests aimed at influencing the court's ruling, stating that such actions are both against the independence of the judiciary and causing public suffering.