Doctors of government hospitals are not willing to give up to private practice. At the same time, they do not want to come under any obligation.
For the past two years, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself requested for private practice in government hospitals, but there has not been any consensus as the majorities of the senior doctors refused to agree to institutional practice. Former Health Minister Mohammad Nasim took the initiative once during his tenure, but in the end came back to regular system due to non-cooperation of the doctors.
On November 12 last, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued written instructions to start evening services for patients through institutional practice at five specialised hospitals in the capital.
These hospitals are the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospitals (NINH), National Institute of Cardiovascular Disease and Hospital (NICVD), National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital (NOIH), National Institute of Kidney Diseases and Urology Hospital (NIKDUH) and National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR).
According to the directive, the ministry is required to submit a specific proposal within 15 days stating what is required to launch the initiative.
Later, on November 18, a nine-member committee was formed to devise the necessary steps to launch the initiative. That committee is expected to submit a draft of the governing body within fifteen days.
An official at the Ministry of Health, who declined to be named, said, the hospitals had submitted proposals. There, they asked to formulate a policy; arguing that launching the initiative without proper policies would not last long.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque has said that the government is determined to implement the initiative. The people of the country will get proper medical services. It takes a while to try something new.
He said, “If this is implemented, the specialist doctors of the hospitals will be able to see their patients inside the hospital. Patients admitted to the hospitals will also be served. As a pilot project, five hospitals have been served letters.”
The minister said, “The doctors would have to determine how long they would stay, how much they will charge. Policies are underway. Patients have a common complaint; they do not get proper attention and the desired services of specialist doctors once they leave the hospital in the afternoon.”
The Director General (DG) of the Directorate of Health, Professor Abul Kalam Azad said, “A final decision has not yet been taken. The task is underway as the hospitals have made proposals.”
Specialists at the government hospital have welcomed the initiative but in reality, they are reluctant to give up private practice at the hospitals.
In this regard, the Director of the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital (NIOH), Dr Golam Mostafa said, “The initiative has to be implanted step by step. This will benefit junior doctors. Because they do not have good chambers.
However, it would be difficult for specialist doctors, he added. However, many senior doctors complain that most senior doctors working at government hospitals do not serve as per the rules laid down by the government.
According to the rules, senior doctors are supposed to be on duty after prescribed duty hours. As a result, no specialist doctor is available at any hospital after they leave in the afternoon. Medical officers and intern doctors provide services. However, these doctors visit their private chamber patients all night in the hospital.
