The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has unearthed serious allegations against 64 government hospitals and health complexes at the district and upazila levels of the country.
Medicines allocated free of charge are stocked in the warehouse. But when a patient comes, they are told that there is no supply of medicine, forcing them to buy medicines from outside.
On the other hand, the hospital authorities keep medicines in warehouses for years and make them expire and unusable. Again, half of the allotted food is given to hospitalised patients. In many cases, this food is of poor quality.
The ACC conducted separate raids and secret investigations against 64 hospitals and health complexes in 37 districts of the country from January to September this year. That is why the above information has emerged.
The ACC has found seven types of irregularities against the accused institutions. These include providing less and lower quality food to patients than allotted, forcing them to buy medicines from outside, collecting extra fees, not using equipment used for diagnosis, not providing clean sheets and beds, irregularities in procurement and recruitment and neglect of duties, etc.
One of the hospitals under complaint is Kapasia Upazila Health Complex in Gazipur, where patients are often turned away without government medicines. Forced to buy medicines from outside shops. Locals complain that doctors and related people are resorting to this dishonesty by taking commissions from drug companies.
On April 18, a patient named Salma Begum went to Kapasia Upazila Health Complex with fever and cold. The hospital authorities did not give him any medicine. He was forced to buy medicine from an outside shop. The ACC has found the truth of the complaint that the hospital did not give the medicine to the patients despite having it.
On April 29, ACC officials raided the hospital. During the raid, a large quantity of expired government medicines and equipment was found abandoned. Upazila Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr. Mamunur Rahman has been removed.
Assistant Director of the ACC who led the campaign. Salim Mia told Ajker Patrika: “There is evidence of damage to the state by leaving the medicine in the warehouse without distributing it and expiring. Allegations of less than the allotted food supply and non-use of disease testing equipment have also been found to be true. It has been recommended to the commission to take appropriate measures.
Officials said that during the ACC operation, evidence of irregularities was also found in the review of tender-related documents in the hospital. The same document is used in different cases. Low bidders are excluded and bought at high prices. Evidence of money embezzlement by creating fake bills was also found.
Jessore’s 250-bed hospital authorities have forced patients to buy diarrhoea-saline from outside even though they have sufficient stock of diarrhoea-saline. The amount of food given to the patients was less. Low-quality food is served at breakfast.
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When the reporter of Ajker Patrika asked about these complaints, the supervisor of the Jessore hospital, Dr. Hussain Shafayet said: โEvery allegation is true. Unfortunately, no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to fix it. Some people from the hospital are involved with this. Even the budget for a day’s food is very low (Tk125). If it is stolen from here too, the food has no value anymore.โ
When asked the reason for not being able to cure the disease even after trying, Hussain Shafayet, the supervising doctor, said: “Our doctors are transferred every one, two or three years. It is difficult for us to control those who have been working here for 20-25 years! I myself have given a written complaint of irregularities.โ
Expired Re-Agent was found in the Katiadi Upazila Health Complex of Kishoreganj. Apart from this, the complaint of giving poor quality breakfast to the patient in the morning and 70 grams of fish instead of the prescribed 105 grams in the afternoon was found to be true.
An allegation has been made against the Kalkini Upazila Health Complex of Madaripur for illegally recommending non-listed drugs to patients without distributing the allocated drugs. ACC has found evidence of this allegation against the Assistant Community Medical Officer, Md. Zahidul Hasan. According to ACC sources, this is against the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council Act, 2010.
In Rajshahi’s Paba Upazila Health Complex, various examination fees are collected in cash receipts and tokens. Evidence of misappropriation of this money without properly depositing it in the government treasury has been found. Evidence of referral of patients to private clinics through brokers was also found.
According to a source of the ACC, at least 50 doctors, officials and employees of accused hospitals and health complexes have been dismissed in the various operations and investigations of the ACC in the last 9 months. Departmental action has been taken against them for various reasons, including financial irregularities, neglect of duty.
On the other hand, the ACC is investigating allegations of irregularities in setting up dialysis units in 15 medical colleges and 44 districts, a Tk334 crore project of the Directorate of Public Health and Engineering. At the same time, the organisation has raided the Directorate of Public Health and Engineering in Rangamati, Jhenaidah and Jessore on the allegations of various irregularities.
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Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said, “ACC has done a very good job. These allegations against government hospitals and health complexes are known to all. As the ACC has identified with evidence, officials and doctors, including those who are directly involved in it, should be brought under exemplary punishment. This syndicate of miscreants must be broken.
What the authorities said
Noorjahan Begum, health adviser, was called several times in the last few days regarding these complaints, but her statement was not received. However, Health Secretary Saidur Rahman spoke about this. He said: “The ACC has not informed us about this yet. If the ACC informs us, we will definitely take action.โ
The Director General of the Department of Health said the same thing. Md. Abu Jafar. He said: “I don’t know anything about the operation and investigation of the ACC. If we are informed, we will take action on it.โ
Alleged hospitals and health complexes
Anwara and Banshkhali of Chittagong, Chakria of Cox’s Bazar, Daganbhooya of Feni, Burichong and Nangalkot of Comilla, Haimchar and Shahrasti of Chandpur, Kamalnagar of Laxmipur and Bancharampur Upazila Health Complex of Brahmanbaria district.
Kapasia of Gazipur district, Saltha and Bangga of Faridpur, Kashiani and Kotalipara of Gopalganj, Kalkini of Madaripur, Jajira and Gosairhat of Shariatpur, Narsingdi Palash, Kalihati of Tangail, Katiyadi of Kishoreganj, Pakundia and Bhairab, Bakshiganj of Jamalpur and Madarganj Upazila Health Complex.
The 250-bed hospital in Kushtia, Daulatpur, Khulna District Medical College Hospital, Phultala in Khulna, Damurhuda in Chuadanga, Morelganj in Bagerhat, Abhaynagar Upazila in Jessore, Uzirpur in Barisal, Mirzaganj in Patuakhali, Nazirpur and Mathbaria in Pirojpur, Biyanibazar 50-bed hospital, Chatak in Sunamganj and Moulvibazar. Kulaura Upazila Health Complex.
Birampur and Birganj in Dinajpur, Pirganj in Thakurgaon, Bagha, Puthia and Paba in Rajshahi, Gomstapur in Chapainawabganj, Mahadevpur in Naogaon, Dhunat in Bogra, Nandigram and Shajahanpur, Ishwardi in Pabna, Chatmohar and Bhangura Upazila Health Complex.
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