‘Strong measures to be taken to make all hospitals broker-free’
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain, said that the government is taking strict steps to make every government hospital in the country broker-free.
Brokers involved in taking patients to various private clinics and hospitals are being identified and arrested. Relevant law enforcement agencies, including RAB, DGFI and SB, are working in coordination for this purpose.
The minister said these things in response to various questions from journalists after visiting Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital on Friday. Commerce, Industry and Textiles and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, MP, was present at the time.
He said that the government is giving utmost importance to eliminating irregularities in the health sector and ensuring better medical services for the people.
He said that the government is monitoring overall issues, including cleanliness at government hospitals, the presence of doctors, patient services and the quality of food.
Stating that he had visited more than 25 hospitals in the country in the last one month, he said that the presence of doctors at most of the hospitals was found to be satisfactory. Information about complaints and the quality of services is being collected by speaking directly to patients.
Regarding the vaccination programme to prevent measles, the Health Minister said that due to some children being excluded from the vaccination programme because of age limits, lack of information and various other reasons, measles has appeared among unvaccinated children.
In this situation, the government is conducting a mop-up campaign, and the vaccination programme will be launched again on a large scale by the end of this month.
Vaccination activities are being strengthened in geographically remote areas, including the haor areas of Sylhet. Initiatives have been taken to start vaccination activities before the campaign, with special attention being given to each upazila.
Stating that action is being taken against illegal clinics, hospitals and unauthorised medical activities, the minister said that fines are being imposed and institutions are being closed through regular mobile courts at the district level.
Institutions that do not have approved labour rooms are being closed. Strict action is also being taken against medical activities, including surgeries, conducted by unqualified doctors, technicians or unauthorised persons.
He said that it had been only six months since he took charge and that some more time should be given to resolve the existing problems in the health sector.
Regarding the cleanliness and other infrastructural problems at Osmani Medical College Hospital, the minister said that the hospital authorities had been given necessary instructions.
Problems, including those related to the drainage system and cleanliness, would be resolved quickly. He also assured that if there were any problems, initiatives would be taken to identify them within the next seven days and resolve them.
During the inspection, Sylhet Medical University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Dr Ziaur Rahman Chowdhury, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Principal Professor Dr Mostafa Toufiq Ahmed, Hospital Director Brigadier General Umar Rashed Munir, SCC Administrator Abdul Quiyum Chowdhury, Deputy Commissioner Abdullah Al Mamun, Civil Surgeon Dr Md Nasir Uddin, officials from various government departments and media personnel were present.
