The High Court on Thursday directed the government agencies concerned to take measures so that hospitals, clinics and medical practitioners do not refuse emergency medical services to patients.
And if any hospital or clinic does not have the requisite service then they have to ensure that the patient is transferred to the nearest available hospital which provides such a service, the court also directed.
The High Court bench comprising Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice SM Maniruzzaman passed the orders after holding hearing on a petition filed in this regard.
The High Court asked the respondents to compile a list of all private and government hospitals and clinics in Bangladesh and a separate list of hospitals and clinics that have emergency departments along with a general description of the condition of such departments and submit the list to the High Court bench within 3 months.
The High Court also issued ruling upon the concerned bodies of the governments to explain in four weeks as to why the failure of the respondents to ensure that hospitals and clinics (government or private) in Bangladesh do not refuse emergency medical services to all persons in need should not be declared to be without lawful authority.
The High Court fixed January 22 in 2022 for further hearing on the matter.
Bangladesh Legal Aid & Services Trust (BLAST) along with co-petitioner Academy of Law and Policy (ALAP) filed this writ petition recently seeking judicial intervention to develop a supportive legal framework for emergency medical services in Bangladesh.
