Source: https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/court/health-secretary-dg-face-contempt-rule-121204
The High Court has issued a contempt rule against the Health Services Division secretary and the director general of the health directorate as they failed to comply with the court order over providing emergency medical care for road accident victims.
The virtual bench of Justice Mamnoon Rahman and Justice Khizir Hayat gave the order Tuesday.
In the order, the two top health officials were asked to explain in two weeks why the court should not take action against them for contempt.
Two years ago, the High Court ordered the health ministry to issue a gazette notification within two months modifying the guidelines on emergency medical services for road crash victims and the people who would assist them.
Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (Blast) appealed to the court Tuesday as no action was taken in this regard. Barrister Rashna Imam appeared for Blast.
She said, “The High Court gave the order on August 8, 2018. Blast filed the contempt petition as they [health officials] did not implement anything.”
On January 21, 2016, the helper of a bus slipped under the wheel and sustained serious injuries in Dhaka. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but it denied him treatment.
After being turned away from two other hospitals, the helper named Arafat was admitted to Kurmitola General Hospital with police help, but on-duty doctors could not save the man.
Blast subsequently filed a writ with the High Court, which then ordered all private and public hospitals to provide road accident victims with emergency treatment.
In the order, the court also asked the health secretary and the director general of the health directorate to formulate a guideline for people who would step in to help those injured in accidents.
The government then formulated the guideline and submitted it to the court.
The court, after adding two observations, ordered the health ministry to publish the guideline within two months.
