The High Court on Monday issued five directives asking the authorities concerned to look into allegations that some hospitals were turning away patients without providing them any treatment.
The bench of Justice Enayetur Rahim issued the directives and asked the health secretary and director general of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) to submit a report within July 21 after hearing six separate writ petitions.
The other directives include providing treatment to patients suffering from different disease including cancer and continuing their treatment if they have symptoms like coronavirus within 36/48 hours, fixing the price of oxygen within 10 working days, launching an online system for filing complaint over refusal of medical treatment at DGHS and filing complaint at Anti-Corruption Commission after getting abnormal bill from private hospitals for ICU facilities.
Barrister Anik R Haque, Advocate Yeadia Zaman, Barrister Mahfuzur Rahman Milon, Advocate Jamiul Haque Foysal and Barrister Ehsanur Rahman stood for the petitioners while Attorney General Mahbubey Alam represented the state.
On June 15, the HC issued 11 directives with observation saying if any hospital refused to deal with any patient and if he/she died in the meantime, it will be considered as ‘death due to negligence’ and a criminal offence.
Later, a petition was filed with the Appellate Division seeking a stay order on the 11 directives issued by the court.
On June 16, the Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division stayed seven directives and upheld three directives issued by the High Court.
Meanwhile, the health department submitted a report before the court saying no allegation has been found against any hospital refusing any patient without providing medical services and necessary action will be taken if allegations raised against hospitals are found to be true.
Besides, the authorities concerned have launched a monitoring system to prevent charging Covid-19 patients taking treatment at ICUs extra while an order has been given to fix the price of oxygen.
A supplementary writ petition was filed seeking action against the directors of four private hospitals in Dhaka and Chattogram for refusing to admit patients and demanding additional charges from patients on Sunday.
Advocate Yadia Zaman, on behalf of Helal Uddin, son of Mohamamd Hossain, who died following negligence, in Chattogram filed the petition.
source: UNB
