Bangladesh’s healthcare crisis: Unchecked practice endangers lives

Ensuring the quality of healthcare in Bangladesh is crucial, and one of the key factors is the evaluation of doctors’ qualifications and skills. Medicine is constantly evolving, new diseases emerge, and modern medical practices open new possibilities globally. However, in Bangladesh, once a doctor obtains an MBBS or specialized degree, they can practice medicine for life without any mandatory skills evaluation. As a result, many doctors fail to keep up with the times and continue to follow outdated medical practices, which not only pose risks to patients but also threaten the overall quality of healthcare.

This issue is not just about the doctors; it is a larger social problem. Often, the general public does not receive proper treatment or is too afraid to file complaints. Many people live in fear and doubt, which leads to a lack of awareness about the importance of medical skills and the weaknesses of the healthcare sector. If this issue were addressed with greater emphasis, the public’s perspective on the current healthcare situation would become clearer, and the problem would be better understood.

In developed countries, doctors are regularly re-evaluated and their skills are assessed at specific intervals. In the UK, doctors are re-evaluated every five years, where they are required to submit records of patient feedback, peer reviews, and their continuing education. In the US, doctors must pass board certification exams at regular intervals and complete various training courses. In Singapore and Australia, doctors are required to undergo training periodically, and their licenses are not renewed unless they accumulate specific credits. Bangladesh lacks such systems, meaning many doctors fail to acquire updated knowledge, which can directly harm patients.

Additionally, the lack of government action has exacerbated this problem. While there are some governmental initiatives, effective steps for skill evaluation are still limited. Without the government’s active role and legal reforms, these issues in the healthcare sector will persist.

The chaos is also evident in hospital management. A skilled medical technologist is needed for accurate diagnosis, but the reality is different. Due to the shortage of technologists in hospitals, critical tests are often performed by inexperienced personnel. Even institutions like Dhaka Medical College Hospital have been accused of having sweepers perform tests, which is a dangerous signal for healthcare. Currently, thousands of positions for medical technologists remain vacant, yet no recruitment is being carried out. If a diagnosis is wrong, how can a doctor provide proper treatment?

It is crucial to establish a mandatory skill development and evaluation system for doctors. A system for re-evaluation and skill assessment every five years could be introduced. Completing specific training and workshops should be mandatory for license renewal. Doctors’ skills could be assessed based on patient feedback and peer reviews. Furthermore, a digital database should be established to monitor doctors’ training, exams, and progress in skills development.

From an economic perspective, the lack of skill evaluation in healthcare can cause significant financial losses for the country. Incorrect treatments, reduced productivity due to illness or accidents, long-term treatment costs, or the need for treatment abroad all strain the national economy. This issue affects not only individuals and families but also the country as a whole.

AI technology is currently bringing significant changes to the healthcare sector. AI-powered software can analyze patient lab reports, scan images, and medical histories to make quick diagnoses. The use of automated diagnostic tools, robotic surgery, and AI in hospital management is improving the accuracy of treatment. However, to ensure the proper use of these technologies, research and training are required. In developed countries, clinical trials are conducted regularly to ensure the effectiveness of AI-based medical devices. Through a second-opinion system, patients can verify their treatment decisions, making the medical process more efficient and transparent.

Not just in healthcare, but skill evaluation is also crucial in other professions. Employees in both public and private sectors can remain in their jobs for life once hired, but there are no effective systems for their skill development. The manufacturing and industrial sectors fail to adhere to international standards, which is one of the reasons for falling behind in competition. In developed countries, CGMP (Current Good Manufacturing/Management Practice) is mandatory, ensuring that employees stay updated on modern management techniques and production methods.

It is vital to implement mandatory training programs for skill development, introduce auditing systems to ensure the implementation of CGMP in both public and private institutions, and make skill evaluation and re-training mandatory at regular intervals. Just as re-evaluation and skill assessment are needed for doctors, similar systems should be in place for industries, manufacturing, administration, and other sectors.

A wrong decision by a doctor can put a patient’s life at risk, just as incompetence in other professions can pose a major obstacle to national development. Without skill development and re-evaluation systems in healthcare, industry, and other professional fields, sustainable development is not possible. The time to take necessary actions is now.

Rahman Mridha, Researcher and Writer