Parliamentary body disappointed by absence of director general of DGHS at its meeting
A parliamentary body today expressed its utter disappointment over the absence of director general of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) at its meeting.
The parliamentary standing committee on health ministry asked officials concerned of the respective ministry to take action against ABM Khurshid Alam for not attending the meeting despite repeated requests, meeting sources said.
The meeting was scheduled to discuss the purchase of different health safety gears including masks and kits since the outbreak of Covid-19, steps taken to address the vaccine crisis, whether vaccines are being brought on a government-to-government basis or through agents, current status of ICU and oxygen supply, meeting sources said.
A member of the committee, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Daily Star that the DG of DGHS has been requested at least three times through his personal secretary to attend the meeting.
"But the DG did not give importance to the matter and attend the committee meeting. There were a lot of issues on the purchase by the DGHS which was scheduled to be discussed in today's meeting. But due to absence of the DG, the committee couldn't discuss all those issues properly," the lawmaker also said.
Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, chief of the parliamentary watchdog asked the ministry to take action against the DG.
"If no action is taken, the issue may be raised in parliament," he told the meeting.
According to meeting sources, the committee members expressed their dissatisfaction as the ministry didn't include members of the parliamentary committee and "icons" of the society such as imams, priests, fathers, star players in creating social awareness among people against Covid-19.
The committee asked respective authorities to deal with the Delta variant of coronavirus more efficiently.
The meeting expressed dissatisfaction over the fact that the 'Prime Minister's Incentive' for doctors, nurses and health workers who died of coronavirus has yet to be disbursed.
The committee recommended necessary measures to be taken so that family members of the deceased get incentives as soon as possible through a simplified process.
Committee member Abdul Aziz said, "Family members of many doctors and health workers have complained to us that they did not get incentives following their demise due to Covid-19 while on-duty. We have asked the ministry so that the respective family members of the deceased get the incentive quickly."
According to a press release issued by the Parliament Secretariat, the meeting recommended immediate steps to be taken in the vaccine production process to bring all the people of the country under a vaccination programme.
The committee also said the health ministry only should provide information and analysis regarding information related to the ministry to avoid confusion.
Committee members Health Minister Zahid Maleque, AFM Rahul Haque, Abdul Aziz, Syeda Zakia Noor, Rahgir Almahi Ershad (Saad Ershad) and Amirul Alam Milon, among others took part in the meeting.
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