Dhaka:Private ambulance owners at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) have suspended their strike for seven days. The strike, initiated to demand a designated parking area, was called off following a decision by the Bangladesh Private Ambulance Owners' Welfare Cooperatives Society.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Badal Madbor, the general secretary of the organization, confirmed the temporary suspension on Wednesday evening. He stated that the hospital authorities have been given a week to meet their demands, failing which they plan to announce further actions.
The strike began on Tuesday morning, with ambulance owners seeking a permanent parking facility within DMCH premises. The absence of available ambulances during the strike led to significant challenges for patients and their relatives, who struggled to transport critically ill individuals and bodies to and from the hospital.
During the strike, some families resorted to using CNG-run auto-rickshaws or covered vans for transportation. Reports indicated that relatives of patients were waiting for ambulances outside various hospital departments, and some alleged a lack of assistance from the national emergency service 999.
Badal Madbor noted that typically, 120 to 130 ambulances serve nearly 4,000 patients at DMCH. However, due to the insufficient parking space, ambulances parked on nearby streets often face fines or impoundment by the police. He mentioned that ambulance owners had previously renovated a space at their expense but were forced to vacate it.
DMCH Director Brigadier General AKM Farhad Hossain stated that there is no provision for parking private ambulances on government property. He clarified that while ambulance operations are not restricted, vehicles must be parked outside hospital premises. Discussions with higher authorities are ongoing to increase the number of ambulances serving DMCH patients. The officer-in-charge of Shahbagh Police Station has been tasked with overseeing the situation.
Source United News of Bangladesh