National eye hospital to remain closed until safety is assured

All services at the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital (NIOH) are set to remain closed until a “favourable environment is ensured” as doctors and other staff suffer from insecurity.

Expressing regret over patients’ suffering due to the hospital’s closure, the health ministry on Saturday advised patients to seek treatment at the ophthalmology department of other hospitals for the time being.

In a media statement, the ministry's spokesperson Mohammad Shahadat Hossain said a delegation has been sent to NIOH to resolve the impasse.

The statement said, “Once a favourable environment is ensured, the highest measures will be taken to resume all medical services.

“As an interim measure, patients who need eye treatment are being requested to seek medical treatment at the ophthalmology department of the nearest hospital.”

The hospital staff went on strike early on Wednesday demanding additional security after a clash broke out between them and injured members of the July Uprising admitted at the facility.

At one point, family members of patients visiting the outpatient department joined in.

Since Wednesday morning, all kinds of medical services at the hospital have been suspended.

On Saturday, people seeking treatment continued to arrive at the facility, only to find its gates locked.

The closure over four consecutive days has piled misery on patients seeking treatment.

Most of the admitted patients have left the hospital except the ones injured in the July movement.

Since emergency services are closed, many people from different parts of the country are returning without receiving treatment.

In the statement, the health ministry said that while all services remain closed, special arrangements have been made to provide medications for those injured in the Uprising.

The ministry added specialist doctors have provided the highest level of medical care since the interim government took office, but regretted that treatment for eye patients nationwide has been severely disrupted.

Lt Col (retd) Akbar Kamal, chief executive officer of the July Foundation, told bdnews24.com that doctors and staff were injured in Wednesday’s clash and a resolution was being sought through discussions with both sides.

“The July [injured] presented a list of eight to 10 hospital employees. They say that except for those few, no one else was barred from coming to the hospital and providing services.

“We are also trying to convince them that people are suffering because the hospital is closed. We are also in regular contact with the health ministry on the issue. I hope a proper solution will be found.”

Earlier, on Sunday, the NIOH authorities said that four people injured in the July Uprising had attempted to commit suicide by ingesting poison, alleging no effective steps were being taken for better treatment or rehabilitation.

They were sent to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital.

During this time, they held the director captive in his office for about an hour and a half. The situation eased after army personnel arrived.

Police said some of the protesters were preparing to set themselves on fire by pouring kerosene and petrol on themselves.

Hospital staff went on a work stoppage on Wednesday morning demanding security after the director was detained and the injured attempted suicide.