Nine female physicians of Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital have been directed to carry on their duties by rotation daily to deal with female
\nvictims of sexual violence and autopsy of females.
\nThe directive was issued on an emergency basis following a High Court rule while the authorities suggested training sufficient number of female forensic experts to address the crisis permanently.
\nThe directive came after a number of media report on the acute manpower crisis in the forensic section at Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital were published.
\nSix out of eight posts for female physician have remained vacant in the hospital, hampering educational activities, medical test of women victims and post-mortem examinations of females.
\nThe nine female physicians of the hospital named for forensic duty are Dr Shakila Islam, Dr Mani Biswas of anatomy, Dr Ima Nag, Dr Nazira Sultana of pharmacology, Dr Fahmida Zerin, Dr Israt Siddika, Dr Nilima Debnath of pathology, Dr Nasrin Jahan of microbiology and Dr Dipanwita Popy of community medicine department of the SBMC.
\nA letter, dated 21-04-2013 and signed by Dr Shahidul Alam, principal SBMC, said this deputation would continue till the posting of permanent female physician at the forensic department of the SBMCH.
\nThe principal and Dr Akhtaruzzaman, acting in-charge of the forensic section of SBMCH, said daily at least one female physician was asked to be engaged in deputation duty to handle female victims for medical test and autopsy at the forensic department.
\nThe step was taken on an urgent basis as the health secretary directed to manage the situation on a local basis in line with the High Court rule of April 16 in this regard.
\nTo solve the crisis permanently, sufficient number of female forensic experts would be needed, they explained.
\nOne of the female physicians of the hospital, preferring anonymity, said female doctors do not feel interested to serve in the forensic department as it has no fixed duty hour, extra allowance, but the doctor has always to be busy preparing official papers or tests and giving witness before the judicial authority.
\nThe condition of the morgue and forensic department is also unhygienic, less equipped and dominated by the male physicians and assistants, she added.
\nOn basis of the media reports, a High Court bench on April 16 asked the Dhaka Medical College Hospital director and its forensic department chief to appear in the court on April 28 to explain what measures they had taken so far following the media report stating that male physicians were conducting medical tests of rape victims.
\nThey were also asked to explain what measures they had taken so far to mitigate the \u2018ill-treatment of women victims\u2019 stated in the reports.
\nIn the rule issued suo moto, the bench of Justice Quazi Rezaul Hoque and ABM Altaf Hossain Chowdhury also asked the government and the DMCH director to explain in two weeks why they would not be directed to take actions against those responsible for such act which was a completely disregard for woman\u2019s chastity, dignity and womanhood.
\nThe health secretary, the directorate general of health services director general, DMCH director, and the DMCH forensic department\u2019s head were asked to reply to the rule.
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