Stop unnecessary tests and improve patient care: Adviser Asif Nazrul to private hospitals
The adviser urged, “Stop this oppression. Stop slitting the throats of poor patients”
Policymakers have urged private hospitals to stop making unfair profits by prescribing unnecessary tests, and to increase salaries for doctors and nurses, as well as improve service quality.
Speaking at an event in the capital today (16 August), Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul and Professor Dr Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the chief adviser for the health ministry called on the Bangladesh Private Hospital, Clinic and Diagnostic Owners Association to take steps to ensure fairer treatment for patients.
In Bangladesh's major hospitals and clinics, there are designated times allotted for pharmaceutical company representatives to meet doctors. Are doctors acting as agents or middlemen for pharmaceutical companies?
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Asif Nazrul urged private hospitals and clinics to stop the practice of prescribing unnecessary medical tests to extract extra money from patients.
In his keynote address, Asif Nazrul criticised the tendency to prescribe unnecessary tests.
"Patients complain that doctors do not listen to them. In our country, doctors prescribe many tests as soon as patients arrive. Stop giving unnecessary and pointless health tests," he said.
"Stop slitting the throats of poor patients," he urged.
Asif Nazrul said, "In Bangladesh's major hospitals and clinics, there are designated times allotted for pharmaceutical company representatives to meet doctors — something that is not seen in any other country in the world.
"Are doctors acting as agents or middlemen for pharmaceutical companies?" the adviser questioned.
The adviser also pointed to poor working conditions for nurses and staff.
"The nurses have bad manners; the staff are unhappy. You have a manor worth crores of taka, but you pay nurses Tk12,000. Of course she will be frustrated. Pay the staff and nurses a decent salary," he said.
He urged improvements in the behaviour of medical professionals.
"Patients do not want to go abroad. Improve the behaviour of doctors in the country. Listen to the patients' problems with an open mind," he said.
Dr Sayedur Rahman emphasised the need for a policy to guarantee fair profits for healthcare providers while preventing unethical profiteering. He stressed that Bangladesh needs a balance between profit-driven, non-profit, and service-oriented healthcare to build a truly national health system.
He also announced initiatives to set equal standards for public and private health institutions through a Health Facility Accreditation Council, and establish a salary board to reduce wage disparities in the sector.
Regarding the licensing process of private hospitals, he said, "We were surprised to learn that it has to be done every year. We have already taken steps in this regard. Issuing licenses every year for 15,000 to 20,000 institutions is not logical. Instead, the process should be brought under a fixed tenure with proper inspections. We have also found that inspections are not carried out properly."
Bangladesh Private Hospital, Clinic and Diagnostic Owners Association General Secretary Dr A M Shamim noted that around $4–5 billion flows out of the country annually for medical treatment abroad. He said strengthening both government and private initiatives could retain this spending and improve healthcare quality at home.
He added that private hospitals currently serve about 12 crore people and are capable of providing 99% of specialised treatment domestically.
The event, held at the Shaheed Abu Sayed International Convention Centre at Minto Road, was organised to mark the inauguration of the association's newly elected committee. It was chaired by the association's President Dr Md Mosaddeque Hossain Bishwas Damble.
