Rajshahi doctors halt private practice over 5-point demand

All doctors in Rajshahi have announced an indefinite suspension of private practice until their five-point demand, including reserving the title 'doctor' exclusively for holders of MBBS or BDS degrees, is met and reflected in the High Court verdict.

The announcement was made during a protest in front of Rajshahi Medical College at around 1:15pm today (11 March).

Speaking on behalf of the doctors, Dr Monowar Tariq Sabu, general secretary of the Rajshahi Medical College Teachers' Association, said that all doctors in Rajshahi have agreed to suspend private practice from today (11 March) until their five-point demand is met.

"If the full verdict of the High Court is not published tomorrow [12 March] and our demands are not accepted, we will announce even stricter programmes," he added.

Earlier, doctors enforced a complete shutdown of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital and suspended outpatient services from 11am.

At around 11:30am, intern doctors staged a human chain and protest in front of the hospital's outpatient department gate.

Meanwhile, expressing solidarity with the intern doctors, students of Rajshahi Medical College boycotted classes and exams. They were later joined by senior doctors from across Rajshahi.

Protesting students stated that all intern doctors at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital have declared a complete shutdown, which will continue until their demands are met.

The intern doctors have outlined several demands, including prohibiting anyone without an MBBS or BDS degree from using the title "doctor" and withdrawing the writ petition against the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC).

They are also calling for an update to the OTC drug list to meet international standards, addressing the shortage of doctors in the healthcare sector, and shutting down substandard medical colleges and Medical Technologist Schools (MTS).

Additionally, they demand the implementation of laws to protect doctors, the immediate recruitment of 10,000 doctors to fill vacancies, and an extension of the age limit for BCS medical exams to 34 years.

There has been a dispute between Medical Assistant Training School (MATS) and medical college students over the right to use the "doctor" title, leading to nationwide disruptions in the health sector.

According to the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council Act, 2010, only MBBS and BDS graduates can use the "doctor" title.

In 2013, Shamsul Huda, the then convener of the Bangladesh Diploma Medical Association, along with others, filed a petition challenging the discriminatory application of this law against Diploma in Medical Faculty (DMF) degree holders.

Another petition was filed last year questioning the legality of Section-29 of the BMDC Act. After hearing both petitions together, the High Court scheduled the final verdict for 12 March.