High court issues rule over implementation of BMDC telemedicine guideline

The High Court has issued a rule asking why instructions should not be given to implement the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council's (BMDC) 2020 telemedicine guideline in every district and upazila to help prevent quackery and the misuse of antibiotics.

A High Court bench comprising Justice Razik-Al-Jalil and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury issued the rule on 7 June, Barrister Sheikh Abu Musa Mohammad Arif, lawyer for the petitioners, disclosed the matter today (14 June).

The court has asked several authorities, including the Ministry of Health, Health Secretary, Information and Broadcasting Secretary, Secretary of the Pharmacy Council, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services, Registrar of the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council, Director General of the Department of Drug Administration, as well as all 64 deputy commissioners, 64 civil surgeons and 64 district drug superintendents.

The writ petition was filed by BPDA Health Education Training and Technology Limited chairman Md Rakibul Islam, along with four doctors: Md Tawhidul Islam, Md Muradunnabi, Shamima Akhter and Manna Chakraborty Mun.

The petitioners said proper implementation of the guideline would help stop quackery and reduce the widespread misuse of antibiotics.