Medical Assistant Training School (MATS) students have blocked Shahbagh intersection in the capital demanding four key demands, including opportunities for higher education and immediate recruitment to vacant positions of Sub-Assistant Community Medical Officers. They have warned that they will not leave the Shahbagh area unless their demands are met.
The students began their protest at 11 AM on Sunday (February 9) after gathering at Farmgate and marching towards Shahbagh.
Central Coordinator of the General MATS Student Unity Committee, Ahmadullah Mansur, stated that although the July Revolution was organized with the vision of creating a non-discriminatory Bangladesh, the long-standing discrimination faced by MATS students has not ended. He mentioned that on January 22, they held a mass gathering in Shahbagh, and the Secretary of the Ministry of Health promised to fulfill their demands within seven working days. However, despite the passage of seven days, no tangible actions have been taken.
He further added that since the Ministry and relevant departments have not taken sincere steps, the students have decided to undertake this movement. He held the Ministry of Health, Health Education Department, Health Directorate, Family Planning Directorate, and Bangladesh Medical Education Faculty responsible for this situation.
Currently, 16 government MATS and nearly 200 private MATS are offering the Diploma Medical Degree (DMA) course in the country. According to Bangladesh Education Statistics 2022 and the latest data from BMDC, there are approximately 60,000 Diploma Medical students in Bangladesh, with 30,000 registered DMFs with BMDC. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, around 5,500 Diploma doctors are working as Sub-Assistant Community Medical Officers in Upazila Health Complexes, Union Sub-health Centers, Union Health and Family Welfare Centers, and District Sadar Hospitals.
The MATS students have expressed concerns about the 50,000 skilled workforce that remains unemployed after completing the Diploma Medical course, with recruitment being stalled for more than a decade. Despite vacancies for 2,500 positions of Sub-Assistant Community Medical Officers, the recruitment process has been delayed, leaving marginalized communities without access to healthcare services.
LND/SAKIB
