CMC issues bizarre 5-point directive

The Chittagong Medical College (CMC), in its 5-point directive, has announced only doctors or staffers who actually get infected with Covid-19 will be permitted to remain in isolation for 10 days.

Any doctor or staffer only coming into contact with any Covid-19 patient need not go for isolation, in fact he or she is not permitted to. 

“It will be counted as absence from workplace if any doctor or staffer acts otherwise,” according to the five-point directive issued on Saturday.

The CMC authorities asked all the concerned to comply with the 5-point directive issued after holding a meeting over the coronavirus management.

One

The first directive states that only the doctors and the staffers who test positive for Covid-19 will be allowed to go for isolation for a period of ten days.

Two

As per the second directive, any doctor or staffer coming into contact with any Covid-19 patient does not have to go for isolation. Indeed, it will be counted as absence from the workplace if any doctor or staffer disobeys the directive.

Three

The third directive says any doctor living in an apartment put under lockdown for Covid-19 infection must remain present at their workplace.

Four

All the doctors and staffers must remain present at the workplace in accordance with the office timing, mentioned the fourth directive.

Five

The fifth directive pointed out that there is no chance to provide the doctors and the staffers with any protective gear from the institution.

Asked for his comment, CMC Principal Prof Dr Shameem Hasan told the Dhaka Tribune that the 5-point directive was issued unanimously.

“The decisions were taken with consent of all the concerned during a meeting. The first directive has been issued in line with the government order,” said Prof Dr Hasan.

“There is no problem if a doctor attends Covid-19 patients wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The total healthcare system will collapse if any doctor goes for isolation immediately after coming into contact with a Covid-19 patient.”

Pointing to the fifth directive, the CMC principal said: “A medical college is not supposed to provide the healthcare professionals with protective gear. It is the responsibility of the hospital to distribute PPEs among the doctors and other staffers.

“I am forcing the doctors and the staffers to be present at their workplace. That is why some of them are opposing the directives. But, I am doing this for the greater interest,” Prof Hasan added.