Accountability should be ensured

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has found proof of absence of 40 percent of physicians at hospitals after conducting separate drives at eleven public hospitals in eight districts of the country including the capital Dhaka. Of them, 11 percent of the doctors were absent from three hospitals in Dhaka, but 62 percent were absent from seven hospitals outside it, according to the ACC. Besides, Md Abu Musa Mia, an employee at the emergency department of Mugda General Hospital in Dhaka, was fired on the recommendation of the ACC for allegedly accepting a bribe from the relatives of a patient.

The hospitals in which the ACC recently conducted drives are— the Sarkari Kormochari Hospital, Maa O Shishu Sadan and Mugda General Hospital in Dhaka, Upazila health complexes in Mymensingh’s Muktagachha, Tangail’s Delduar, Rangpur’s Pirgachha, Rajshahi’s Godagari, Kushtia’s Kumarkhali, and Pabna’s Atgharia, Pabna General Hospital and Dinajpur General Hospital. There is a system to transfer the government employees and staff after a definite period. But it is found that they have been in service at the same workplace for a long time.

The evidence the ACC has found is a matter of great concern. According to the information obtained from the drives, it is clear that a remarkable number of doctors are either showing indifference to their duty or showing negligence. There is an allegation that most of the physicians do not want to perform their duties outside the capital and big cities. There are many doctors who utilized their influence to stay in the capital for years. These issues have come to light after the ACC drive.

According to the news reports, it has been found after reviewing the duty roster of 11 government hospitals, 230 doctors were supposed to be present. But 92 doctors were found absent which constitutes 40 percent of the total number of doctors. In hospitals outside Dhaka, 81 out of 131 doctors were absent which constitutes 62 percent of the total number of doctors.

The inspections were conducted based on complaints received through the ACC’s hotline from patients suffering at government hospitals. Earlier, such allegations were found against village doctors but now these allegations are being surfaced against the doctors serving in the capital.

Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued a warning regarding the absence of the doctors at their respective workplaces. The health minister spoke of taking stern actions against the persons concerned. The ACC and the authorities concerned will have to take stern actions in this regard. Accountability for the doctors showing indifference and negligence to their duties should be ensured.



risingbd/Dhaka/Jan 24, 2019/Ali Nowsher/AI