BSS-57 Irregularities, negligence in health sector won’t be tolerated: Maleque

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BSS-57

MALEQUE-HEALTH-IRREGULARITIES

Irregularities, negligence in health sector won’t be tolerated: Maleque

DHAKA, Feb 3, 2019 (BSS) – Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque today warned the wrongdoers in the health sector of taking stern actions saying any irregularities and negligence in duties at the hospitals will be dealt in an iron hand.

“It is not acceptable that the government’s goodwill for its huge achievements in the health sector are getting harmed due to some unexpected incidents by a few persons in the sector,” he told the inaugural session of a 3-day annual scientific congress ‘BOSCON-2019’ arranged by Bangladesh Orthopedic Society (BOS) at a city hotel.

State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Md. Murad Hasan, Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) President Dr Mustafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Vice-Chancellor Prof Kanak Kanti Barua, Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad President Prof M Iqbal Arslan addressed the session, among others, with BOS President and NITOR Director Prof Md Abdul Gani Mollah in the chair.

On January 31, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Commissioner Dr Mozammel Haque Khan handed over a report to the health and family welfare minister regarding corruption in the Directorate General of Health Services following a long inquiry into the health sector that identified 11 areas of corruption and prepared a set of 25 recommendations to stop the menace.

On January 21 in a press release, the ACC said in separate drives the commission found 40 percent of doctors absent in 11 government hospitals and healthcare centers in eight districts across the country.

The ACC enforcement teams conducted the drives in eight districts, including Dhaka, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Tangail, Mymensingh, Kushtia and Pabna, on the basis of different complaints received through its hotline ‘106’.

Against the backdrop of the allegations of irregularities and negligence, the health minister said the government has ensured every facility and other requirements for the betterment of doctors, nurses and medical staffs and employees.

“But the government’s all achievements are facing questions due to the irregularities and negligence of a very few persons in the sector,” he said.

“We were really ashamed to face such situation when we met the prime minister who ensured everything for the betterment of doctors and other staffs for providing proper healthcare services to the people which is their fundamental rights,” he said. The minister warned of taking tougher actions against further occurrence of such incidents and urged the doctors and others to perform their duties with sincerity and devotion.

He said 400 vehicles would be given to doctors at upazila level as they can perform their duties properly and timely.

BSS/ASG/DH/MKD/MRU/2219hrs