Shanta Akhter traveled to Dhaka from Savar, hoping that her mother would undergo eye surgery at the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital (NIOH) in Agargaon, Dhaka, on May 29. However, her hopes were dashed as medical services at the hospital were suspended, and the surgery did not take place.
Speaking to Prothom Alo at the hospital gate, Shanta expressed her frustration: “There is no better eye treatment available anywhere else, so we rely entirely on NIOH. But the surgery date has passed, and my mother’s condition is worsening. If the surgery doesn’t happen soon, her health could worsen significantly.”
As of Saturday, NIOH services had been suspended for the fourth consecutive day following clashes between medical staff and patients injured during the July uprising. The hospital has been at a standstill since Wednesday morning, and hospital authorities are unable to provide any timeline for when services will resume. This ongoing disruption is causing increasing hardship for patients and their families, many of whom are leaving the hospital without receiving the treatment they urgently need.
Patient Hardships Continue
Babul Hossain from Sirajganj arrived at NIOH with his daughter, Jasmin Akhter, for her eye surgery. But upon arrival, he was met with the news that services were suspended. Jasmin was scheduled for surgery on Saturday, but now, Babul and his daughter are left waiting for services to resume.
Babul shared his distress with Prothom Alo, saying, “I have never faced such difficulty before. If the surgery doesn’t happen, we will have to return to Sirajganj. My daughter is constantly in pain, and without immediate treatment, her eyes could be permanently damaged.”
Another patient, Rohan Mahmud, has been receiving treatment at NIOH for six months after being injured during the July uprising. He expressed hope that medical services would resume soon, saying, “Some patients here have lost an eye, others have blurry vision, and some are facing problems in their healthy eye. Where can we go now under these circumstances?”
Empty Hospital and Growing Discontent
On Saturday morning, the 250-bed hospital was eerily quiet. No doctors, nurses, or hospital staff were present. Over 100 patients, many of whom had traveled from across the country, were seen waiting at the hospital gate, with many leaving in frustration without any treatment.
Among the patients still in the hospital, around 60 to 70 are those injured during the July uprising, while 25 to 30 are general patients. Due to the incomplete treatment, these patients cannot seek care elsewhere.
Police and Ansar personnel have been stationed at the hospital since the clashes. Police officers stated that the situation has remained calm since Wednesday, but no medical staff have shown up to resume treatment.
“We ensure security here, but we have no information on when medical services will resume. Every day, patients and their families travel from far away, only to leave disappointed,” said Police Officer Abu Sufian.
Hospital Leadership Remains Silent
Jan-e-Alam, the acting director of NIOH, told Prothom Alo on Friday, “The hospital is closed. No doctors, nurses, or staff are allowed to enter. We don’t know when services will resume, and I have no updates regarding the condition of the patients either.”
A meeting was held at the government residence of Professor Md Sayedur Rahman to discuss the ongoing situation. The meeting included several advisors, leaders from the National Citizen Party (NCP), the hospital’s director, and other officials. The meeting deliberated on the decision to not send back the physicians and staff who were involved in the July uprising incidents, as well as plans for follow-up treatment for patients who had previously received care abroad.
Professor Md Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the Chief Advisor, said, “It may take some time before services at the hospital are fully resumed.”
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