Brokers, unethical referrals in crosshairs
Health and Family We.lfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain on Wednesday announced a tougher stance against broker networks, unethical patient referrals and wasteful spending in Bangladesh’s public healthcare system, saying the government will take measures to ensure hospitals serve patients effectively.
Speaking at the unveiling of a study on public health system efficiency in Dhaka, the minister said commission-based referrals, unnecessary diagnostic tests and other irregular practices would come under strict monitoring.
The government is moving to dismantle broker syndicates that operate around public hospitals and push patients towards private clinics, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain said.
“Commission-based referrals, unnecessary diagnostic tests and other unethical practices will also be brought under strict monitoring,” he said while unveiling the study titled “Addressing Gaps in Bangladesh’s Public Health System: A Rapid Facility-Based Assessment of Spending Efficiency to Ensure Universal Health Coverage” in the capital.
The minister warned that doctors would not be allowed to neglect responsibilities at government hospitals while running private clinics or referring patients to selected diagnostic centres for personal financial benefits. He said improving accountability in the health sector was necessary to ensure better services for citizens.
Highlighting weaknesses in public procurement, Sakhawat said unrealistic eligibility requirements had previously been included in tender documents to limit competition and benefit specific individuals or companies.
He also criticised the purchase of expensive medical equipment without ensuring the required infrastructure and trained manpower.
Referring to radiotherapy machines, the minister said some equipment remained unused because necessary facilities were not prepared before procurement. Similar problems had also been found with X-ray machines and other medical equipment in different areas of the country, he added.
On immunisation, Sakhawat said the previous government failed to procure measles vaccines and conduct nationwide vaccination campaigns in recent years.
He said the current government has strengthened immunisation efforts since taking office and brought more than one lakh additional children under vaccine coverage.
Around 99 percent of children currently infected with measles are unvaccinated, he said, stressing the importance of expanding routine vaccination programmes.
The minister also announced that the government would not renew the contract of a foreign company providing dialysis services after its expiry in November.
Instead, dialysis machines would be purchased directly by the government to reduce costs, save foreign currency and make treatment more affordable, he said.
Under the planned expansion, 50-bed dialysis centres are being established at every medical college hospital, while each district hospital will receive a 10-bed dialysis unit.
The study was jointly conducted by the Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) and the Health Economics Unit.
PPRC Executive Chairman Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman presented the findings, while Health Economics Unit Director General Dr Md Enamul Haque delivered the welcome address.
The assessment reviewed 22 public healthcare facilities at primary, secondary and tertiary levels across all eight administrative divisions.
It examined budget implementation, procurement practices and institutional performance during the FY2024-25 period.
According to the findings, the average budget implementation rate among the surveyed institutions stood at 85 percent, while secondary-level facilities recorded the lowest utilisation rate at 78 percent.
Although 94 percent of the institutions had unspent funds at the end of the financial year, only 11 percent identified financial mismanagement as a concern.
The assessment was conducted to identify challenges in Bangladesh’s public healthcare system and explore ways to improve spending efficiency, institutional performance and progress towards universal health coverage.
