Some Ansar members deployed as security forces at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) are found to be involved in various irregularities, including extorting money from patients’ relatives and sending patients to other places on commission, causing immense sufferings to patients.
Many patients seeking treatment at the hospital have alleged that they are often compelled to pay additional money to get medical services at the hospital.
It is well known that Ansar security forces perform duties in various government hospitals in the country. However, instead of performing their duties as security men they offer to help incoming patients and make illegal money.
There are allegations against the members of this force for holding patients hostage and extorting money.
Not only patients or their relatives but also hospital doctors, nurses, interns, and various levels of staff are not spared from such aggressive acts.
On Wednesday, An Ansar member, Juin Uddin of NICVD, allegedly took money from a patient’s relative to do an echo test urgently. However, the Ansar member made the echo test free of cost and didn’t return the money to the patient. Later, the patient’s relative informed a senior hospital doctor of the matter.
Dr Debabrata Halder, an assistant professor of NICVD, told Bangladesh Post “On the allegation of taking money, we called the accused Ansar member and asked him about taking taking. The Ansar member answered affirmatively.”
“We have informed the matter to the higher authority of Ansar. They will take action in this regard,” he added.
Md Zahidul Islam, Public Relations Officer and Deputy Director (Project training) of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP said, “We have a policy. Accordingly, the Ansar members are assigned to different places. It is done through a software.”
Regarding the trial of irregularity of recruits, he said, “48 types of crimes are mentioned in our policy. If someone commits a crime, he is blocked or blacklisted in the software. Actions are taken against them according to the Criminal Procedure Code, depending on the degree of crime. When the complaint is raised, first a probe committee is formed.”
A few days ago, Abul Kashem of Shariatpur, a patient’s relative who went to the NICVD for his brother’s treatment, said, “The Ansar of this hospital are so bad that they don’t even talk without money. Generally, attendants have to pay money every time he wants to enter the CCU. The patient's relatives are helpless in their behaviour.”
Talking to the relatives of the patients who came to the hospital for services, it is known that many patients are accommodated on the floor or corridor due to excess patients in the hospital. Beds are not available even after waiting for days in the normal process. By paying money to Ansar, Ward Master, Ward Boy and others manage seats readily. The same is the case with urgent medical examinations. Extra money is charged for ECG and echo.
Sources inside the hospital said patients have to give extra money to use trolleys and wheelchairs while some dishonest medical staff members take Tk 200 for a wheelchair and Tk 500 for a trolley.
A broker syndicate inside and outside the hospital is also active in getting patients admitted, and for medical services.