Outpatient services at the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital in the capital Dhaka resumed on Thursday morning amid security concern after remaining suspended for over two weeks following clashes among the hospital staff, outpatients and July uprising-injured patients.
Treatment at the 250-bed national eye hospital, located in Dhaka鈥檚 Agargaon area, had remained suspended since May 28 following clashes between the hospital staff, outpatients and the July uprising injured who were admitted to the hospital. Later, the emergency service at the hospital resumed on June 4.
Acting director of the hospital Md Zan E Alam said that 580 outpatients received treatment on Thursday.
Zan E Alam said that they had made preparations for resuming the rest of the services, including indoor services, at the hospital on July 14 amid security concern.
鈥榃e have already informed the law enforcement agencies and health department high ups about security issues,鈥� he said.
At least 33 general patients who were given emergency services and needed admission are now undergoing treatment at the specialised hospital.
The suspension of treatment at the largest public eye hospital for over two weeks had caused sufferings for the patients. Several hundred patients returned home without treatment or were compelled to take treatment at private hospitals.
On Thursday, the ticket distribution for visiting doctor began at 9:00am at the outpatient department of the hospital. By about 9:30am, hundreds of patients were seen waiting for medical attention.
Doctors and nurses at the hospital continued outpatient services till 1:00pm.
Members of the police, Rapid Action Battalion and Ansar were seen in nearby areas of the hospital.
The hospital authorities alleged that some victims of July uprising, which ousted the authoritarian Awami League regime past year, were not leaving the hospital even after they were released. However, the victims said that they were not given proper treatment.
Before Eid-ul-Azha holidays that began on June 5, there were 54 July uprising injured admitted to the hospital.
Following the dispute, the government formed an expert committee. The committee has instructed that formal discharge papers be issued for those injured during the uprising.
On May 28, the hospital staff, doctors, and nurses began a work stoppage demanding their security, a day after NIOH director Khair Ahmed Choudhury was besieged for two hours by protesters following suicide attempts by four July uprising injured on May 25.
At one point on May 28, a clash broke out among the hospital staff, outpatients and July uprising-injured patients, leaving about 21 wounded.