Foreign Medical Interns Face Uncertainty

Uncertainty is mounting among foreign medical interns following the suspension of operations at Ad-din Medical College Hospital in the Moghbazar area of Dhaka. The closure has left dozens of trainee doctors in limbo, particularly international interns who are now concerned about the completion of their mandatory training and the validity of their professional progression.

A 20-member delegation of interns, primarily from India and the Maldives, visited the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) in Mohakhali on Monday morning in search of urgent clarification. However, they were unable to meet the Director-General. Instead, they submitted a formal written appeal and held discussions with an assistant director, outlining their situation and requesting immediate intervention.

The delegation later proceeded to the Directorate General of Medical Education (DGME), where they met the Director (Medical Education), Professor Dr. Rubina Yasmin, in the absence of the Director-General. Despite extended discussions, the interns reported receiving no concrete assurance regarding the resolution of their predicament.

According to institutional sources, more than 30 foreign interns are currently undertaking placements at the hospital, alongside over 350 interns in total, including both domestic and international trainees. The sudden operational disruption has therefore created widespread academic and professional uncertainty.

Foreign interns have emphasised that, under regulations in their home countries, medical graduates must complete internships strictly at the institution where they obtained their degree or at its officially affiliated teaching hospital. This rule significantly limits their ability to transfer to alternative placements, leaving them particularly vulnerable in situations such as the current shutdown.

One of the interns, Elias Mansur, explained that their professional training pathway is tightly regulated and non-transferable. He urged the authorities to address the issue on humanitarian grounds, stressing that the disruption threatens not only their careers but also their eligibility for medical licensing in their home countries.

Officials at the DGME have stated that no formal decision has yet been taken regarding the matter. They added that no official written application had been received at the highest administrative level at the time of reporting, but assured that any submitted request would be reviewed and appropriate action considered.

The crisis follows heightened scrutiny of the hospital after the deaths of six newborns within a few hours on 27 May. In response, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare formed an investigation committee to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident, which ultimately contributed to the suspension of hospital operations.

Intern and Institutional Overview

As investigations continue and administrative discussions remain ongoing, the affected interns remain in a state of professional limbo, awaiting a clear directive that could determine the trajectory of their medical careers.