Attacks on doctors and medical staff in Bangladesh have increased significantly, raising concerns over patient care and safety nationwide. Since the beginning of the year, more than 80 incidents of violence, including physical assaults and hospital vandalism, have been reported across various public and private healthcare facilities. These incidents are contributing to a growing trust deficit between patients and healthcare providers, while also prompting doctors to adopt defensive practices that may delay or reduce the quality of treatment.
On 12 October, a notable incident occurred at Chattogram Medical College Hospital, where relatives of a critically ill patient, Mahfuz Rahman, allegedly vandalized doctors’ rooms and medical equipment following his death. Staff members, including doctors and nurses, reported verbal and physical abuse during the unrest. In another incident at Badstaff District Hospital, a female doctor on emergency duty was reportedly confronted by a political leader and his associates after a ward boy failed twice to insert an intravenous cannula for a patient. The hospital was severely understaffed that day, with around 450 patients admitted to a facility designed for 250 beds.
A study published in March 2024 found that 67.3% of physicians surveyed at a public tertiary hospital had experienced workplace violence, including psychological abuse (84.5%), physical violence (13.5%), and sexual violence (2%). Patients’ relatives were identified as the main perpetrators in 66% of these cases. Medical staff working in emergency and surgical departments, as well as those on rotating shifts, face higher risks of violence.
Healthcare professionals warn that this climate of hostility is encouraging doctors to pursue "defensive medicine," where they become reluctant to treat complicated or high-risk patients. This trend is leading to more referrals from smaller peripheral hospitals to larger tertiary facilities in Dhaka and divisional cities, overburdening these hospitals and potentially delaying crucial treatment. A doctor at a district hospital outside Dhaka cited severe staffing shortages and infrastructure limitations as factors fuelling patient dissatisfaction and increasing tensions. The presence of content creators filming alleged hospital irregularities was also mentioned as exacerbating conflicts between patients’ relatives and medical personnel.
Doctors report that fear for their safety is affecting their willingness to engage directly with patients. A government hospital doctor in Dhaka described delegating initial treatments and procedures such as CPR and lumbar punctures to interns, citing personal experiences of violence and vandalism as reasons for the shift. The doctor stressed the need for enhanced hospital security, better crowd control, expanded primary care, and improved resources to support healthcare workers.
State Minister for Health Dr. MA Muhith acknowledged the role of policymakers in the deteriorating relationship between patients and doctors and emphasized the importance of accountability through formal procedures rather than public confrontations. He warned that the dissemination of videos and complaints on social media without due process could damage doctors’ motivation and empathy. The government is reportedly working on a Health Protection Act aimed at enhancing safety and safeguarding the rights of both patients and healthcare workers, with consultations involving legal, health, and patient representatives underway.
Legal experts stress the necessity of transparent and effective mechanisms to investigate medical negligence claims impartially. Advocate Syed Mahbubullah Alam highlighted that frustration among patients and families often escalates due to delayed or inadequate grievance handling, undermining trust in the healthcare system. He called for stronger roles for regulatory bodies like the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council in managing such complaints to prevent further erosion of confidence in medical care.