Private healthcare service

Public healthcare service in Bangladesh is very poor -- that goes without saying. There are traditional, administrative and financial reasons for this. This service being poor, people are forced to seek private clinic/hospital's help -- which of late has grown in size and number. They are founded with claims to render 'better' service to the people. But in fact these clinics mostly operate with commercial motive and are very expensive and not affordable by the common masses. Further the service they render at exorbitant rate is also not up to the mark, as personally experienced, which I may like to share with the readers.

Recently I was hospitalised for an operation as suggested by a surgeon. The ordeal started from the time I saw the doctor. He charged me Tk 400/- as his consultation fee and then referred to get pathological tests. That cost a little over Tk 800/-. With the reports I saw him. Then he asked for physical test to make sure whether the ailment I had needed any surgical operation. For that he charged Tk 1800/-. The test confirmed I needed the operation. Then I was asked to see the reception for seat with tentative date for operation. The receptionist said that prior booking was not done, I was required to check further: I checked on the operation date. That day low rate cabin (Tk 1300/- per day) was not available. Higher rate (Tk 1700) was available. I had to accept that. I checked in around 2.15 pm. It was a small room with toilet and a very small attendant's bed. Tk 1700/- included food for the patient although the quality of food was far from satisfactory which I shall deal with later.

Then in the late evening I was taken to the OT and operated upon. After the operation I was taken to bed and at late night given a small quantity of soup in place of dinner. Morning followed with breakfast consisting of three slices of un-toasted bread, a boiled egg and a very small cup of milk. For medicines, the nurse would direct "Take this before meal and take that after meal." Doctors on duty visited but seemed as if they were on their heels. Then followed lunch consisting of rice, watery dal, a small quantity of vegetable and a few pieces of chicken meat/fish. This was repeated for dinner. There was arrangement for afternoon tea with two pieces of biscuits. The cooking food was less tasty. But that was understandable since patients are supposed to take less tasty food. But if there was will, that less testy food could be made somewhat platable and menu improved to the advantage of the patients. However, this routine was followed until the forth day when I was discharged with a fat bill of around Tk 23000/- plus which included surgeon's fee, room rent, medicine etc.

Though I was treated but at what cost? Almost amazingly unaffordable by Bangladesh standard! It is negation of claims of the clinic operators that they extend service to the humanity. The newspapers and TV channels carry ads in this behalf claiming "foreign facilities in Bangladesh". Yes foreign facilities are available but for too few since costs are prohibitive. Golden doctors are these but to mint gold for themselves ignoring the interest of common patients. All these are happening because of lack of medical ethics, lust for money and apparently no control of the government over the operation of private clinics, clinical labs and fees of the doctors. If service to the patients is meant then the clinics and hospitals have to be made affordable and service oriented first their and commercial consideration last government have to take more pains to make it patient oriented. Along side this, services in the government hospitals and clinics have to be improved so that the poor patients are meaningfully benefited and the monopoly of private clinics/hospitals contained.

To conclude, it may be said that private healthcare service in Bangladesh is really far from satisfactory further forcing people who can afford to go to the neighbouring countries or abroad. For the poor it gives a message: "What can't be cured, must be endured!"