'Inadequate facilities' behind unwillingness
Physicians at a seminar yesterday blamed “inadequate facilities” behind their unwillingness to join government hospitals in the district and upazila levels.
“Lack of security at work, insufficient guidelines and inter-cadre disparities are discouraging government doctors to go to rural areas,” claimed Dr Ehteshamul Haque Chowdhury Dulal, secretary general of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA).
BMA organised the seminar on “Sustainable Development Goals: Actions needed in health sector” at its auditorium.
Dr Ehteshamul also alleged that the health and family welfare ministry did not take proper initiatives to address the crisis in the last few years.
“Students who become doctors take an oath to serve patients but the government should understand why doctors are unwilling to go to district and upazila levels,” he said, urging the prime minister to resolve the crisis.
Dr Kanak Kanti Barua, vice chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, said the government should introduce standard accommodation for physicians in the non-urban areas and address the dearth of basic science teachers and modern facilities at the medical collages to achieve SDG.
Dr Rashid-E-Mahbub, former president of BMA, said that both the government and people are blaming doctors without understanding their issues.
“We cannot take administrative decisions; the health ministry should sit with us and take initiatives to develop the sector,” he said.
Zahid Malek, minister for health and family welfare, said the government will soon provide extra facilities to doctors in district and upazila levels, including housing, but physicians have to be more prudent.
“If a doctor does not maintain work hours, legal action will be taken” he said.
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