Petition seeks ‘yellow zone’ at private hospitals

Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) yesterday filed a writ petition seeking its directive on authorities concerned to set up "yellow zones" at entrances of every private hospital, clinic and diagnostic centre.

Advocate Manzill Murshid submitted the petition digitally, requesting the HC to pass an order on the government to supply personal protective equipment to doctors, nurses and staff at yellow zones who will conduct tests of emergency patients and provide treatment during the pandemic.

In the petition, HRPB prayed to the HC to issue a rule asking authorities to explain why they should not be directed to take necessary steps in this regard, and to direct respondents to show cause why their failure to protect people from coronavirus should not be declared illegal and unconstitutional.

Chairman of advisory committee for prevention of infectious diseases, health secretary, additional secretary (hospitals) of health ministry, director general of directorate of health services and president and secretary of Bangladesh Private Clinics and Diagnostics Owners Association have been made respondents to the required rule.

If a yellow zone is set up at the entrance of private hospitals and clinics, patients will be tested instantly and they will be classified on the basis of test reports and then necessary treatment can be given to them, said Advocate Manzill Murshid.

He told this newspaper that officials concerned of the HC are likely to hear on the petition on May 18.