Negligence in healthcare will not be tolerated: Health minister

Negligence in healthcare services for grassroots people will not be tolerated, Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain Bokul said today (7 March).

"Those who fail to perform their duties on time must be held accountable," the minister said during a surprise visit to the Palash Upazila Health Complex in Narsingdi this morning.

He arrived at the hospital around 8:30am without prior notice to check whether doctors and staff were attending duty on time and to assess the overall quality of healthcare services.

At a time when patients had already started gathering on the hospital premises, the minister entered the health complex without any formal protocol.

Soon after entering, he examined the attendance register and duty roster to verify whether doctors and staff had reported to work on time.

During the inspection, he expressed dissatisfaction after finding several doctors and staff absent from their duties according to the roster.

The minister also visited the emergency department, pathology laboratory and outpatient department and instructed the hospital authorities to ensure proper cleanliness and maintain adequate stocks of medicines.

Speaking with patients waiting in line, the health minister listened to their concerns and reiterated that any negligence in providing healthcare services to people at the grassroots level would not be tolerated.

Palash Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ishtiaq Ahmed, former vice chairman and Ghorashal Municipality BNP president Alam Molla, and Upazila Family Planning Officer Dr Atikul Islam were present during the visit.