COVID-19: Bangladesh premier issues stern warning to doctors evading duty

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday issued a stern warning to doctors who denied treating coronavirus patients after five more infected persons died, amid speculation that the country may face a massive hike in COVID-19 cases in the coming days of April.

"I want to know their names...they are incapable of performing as doctors, she said this while exchanging views on the coronavirus situation with public representatives and government officials from Chittagong and Sylhet.

Hasina said doctors who denied treating patients have no rights to continue their jobs. She also announced special incentives and health insurance for doctors, others providing services during the crisis.

She also praised doctors mostly in government hospitals, calling them frontline soldiers in the war against coronavirus.

"We want to reward the brave health workers, including doctors, nurses and others who are working day and night to provide health care services to the people in this critical time...and a special health insurance scheme will be introduced for them, she said.

"(But) those who lack sense of humanity do not deserve incentives."