DHAKA, July 5, Reuter: Outpatient wards in Dhaka’s five government hospitals have been forced to close because of protests by students opposed to new three taka (10 US. cents) fee for patients, health officials said.
Students demanding free treatment for outpatients ransacked the office of the Chief of Medical College hospital in the Bangladesh capital.
They also staged demonstrations in other parts of the country, health officials said:
The students have threatened to step up their protests, which have closed Dhaka outpatient wards for three days, unless the three taka fee is withdrawn,
Finance Minister Mohammad Syeduzzaman announced the fee in the annual’ budget before parliament on June 18, saying it was needed to improve hospital’ services.
The protesters say outpatients are too poor to pay even a nominal sum, The government has said the fee will remain.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 10, 1987
