Doctors have taken to the streets to demand significant reforms in the country's health system. On Wednesday morning, MBBS and BDS professionals gathered at Central Shaheed Minar, advocating for crucial changes.
As part of the 'March to BMDC' campaign, the doctors are protesting the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council's (BMDC) recent decision to classify medical assistants with MATS, DMFs, and LMFs as 'Registered Diploma Medical Practitioners.' They are also calling for the removal of certain BMDC officials.
The Diploma in Medical Faculty (DMF) is offered through Medical Assistant Training Schools (MATS).
The doctors argue that only individuals with an MBBS or BDS degree should be permitted to use the title of doctor. They have warned of escalating their protests if their demands are not met.
The BMDC's decision to grant medical assistants the status of "Registered Diploma Medical Practitioner" has sparked controversy. This new classification allows medical assistants to use the prefix "Doctor" or "Dr" before their names and practice independently, drawing strong reactions from the medical community.
Medical students, doctors, and healthcare experts are concerned that this decision undermines the rigorous standards traditionally required to earn the title of doctor, potentially compromising the credibility of the healthcare system.
The MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) and BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) degrees require extensive academic training, internships, and examinations and are considered the gold standard in medical practice. In contrast, the Diploma in Medical Faculty (DMF), while valuable, does not offer the same depth of clinical and diagnostic training. Critics fear that allowing medical assistants to practice independently could lead to increased instances of unqualified practice, jeopardising public health.
Eligibility for MATS requires only a minimum GPA of 2.5 in SSC with Biology and does not necessitate passing HSC. In contrast, applying for MBBS or BDS programmes demands a combined GPA of at least 9.00 from both SSC and HSC, including a minimum GPA of 4.0 in Biology. Applicants who do not meet these criteria are ineligible for MBBS or BDS programmes.
