Despite fear of burning, private medical facilities should be brought within reach

A child named Ayan has returned from the hospital as a lifeless body after undergoing circumcision. It is impossible for us to comprehend the feelings of his parents. On December 31, Ayaan was taken to the United Medical College Hospital in the capital, Badda, for circumcision. There, without the parents' consent, the child is circumcised by a doctor using full general anesthesia. After the circumcision is completed, Ayan is not brought back to consciousness at that place and is sent to Gulshan-2 United Hospital.

He was kept on life support at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) there. After seven days, the doctor declares him dead. Not only that, although initially there was talk of a 10,000 Taka package for the operation, a bill of almost six lakh Taka was presented. (Source: Ittefaq, January 9, 2024)."

After the death of the child Ayan, it was revealed that the United Medical College and Hospital was illegal. That is, there was no registration for it. It has never applied for registration under this name. As a result, the Department of Health has directed the suspension of the hospital's healthcare operations. (BBC Bangla, January 15, 2024). Meanwhile, the Director (Hospital) of the Department of Health, Abul Hossain Mohammad Mainul Ahsan, told Daily Star, 'United Medical College Hospital applied for registration in August of last year. However, due to an error, the application was not approved.'

However, even without registration, the hospital was conducting medical operations all this time. On this matter, he stated, 'Since the hospital was not in our database, we were not aware of this issue. A particular hospital comes under supervision only after being registered.’ Even more surprising news emerges two days later. A report from an online portal suggests that the medical college under the management of United Hospital in Gulshan, Dhaka, was also operating with an expired license.

The license for this expired in June last year. In a report, a health department official is quoted as saying: 'There are other major hospitals in the country, and they all seem to be very sincere about legal issues. However, United Hospital does not express any concern.' (Shokal Shondha, January 17, 2024)"

The question arises: How many students were admitted to United Medical College, and how much money did they provide to the college? Pursuing medical education in a private college involves significant expenses. So, if someone is admitted, will they get a refund? If a year or so has passed, how will they cope with this loss? Will they be able to enroll elsewhere? How many people have suffered from this so far? Because after the death of the child Ayan his family complained that they admitted Ayan in a package of 10 thousand taka, but they were handed a bill of 6 lakh taka.

The question is, how many people have become victims in this hospital in the past year? Will the Health Department now investigate this matter? A major question than that is, how many unregistered private hospitals, clinics, and medical colleges are there in Dhaka and across the country? The Health Department also lacks accurate statistics on this. It means that if, after an accident, there is public outcry and social media reports, and if an investigation is conducted based on credible sources, only then does the veil of secrecy lift from that hospital, clinic, or medical college. Not before that.

According to a news report by BDNews on September 2, 2020, a total of 12,543 private hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centers applied for re-registration by August 31, 2021. However, despite having a list of registered private hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centers, there is no list of unregistered ones available at the health department.

It means that the regular monitoring required by the health department is not happening. Whether the hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centers that have been established in the district, upazila and cities of the country have been properly registered or not; whether all conditions of registration are met; Whether the equipment used there, works properly; Those who have the duty to see whether the persons in charge of examination and treatment are qualified and competent. However, they are not fulfilling their responsibilities.

They may excuse the manpower crisis. Talk about the inadequacy of the budget. Or say something like 'We are looking into it'. Practically everything that harms people is happening, will continue to be.

In district and sub-district level private hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centers, where proper examinations and inspections are not conducted, and patients often experience incorrect treatment leading to fatalities, these issues are no longer a hidden matter.

Health Minister Dr. Samanta Lal Sen, in a discussion with the Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum at the Secretariat, revealed that hospitals and clinics that operate without proper approval will not be allowed to continue. He emphasized that there will be no compromise for unauthorized facilities, and they will not be allowed to operate without a license. The minister underscored the need for taking decisive measures against such unauthorized clinics and hospitals. He stated that the message is clear that these unauthorized clinics and hospitals must be shut down, and necessary actions should be taken against them. The minister expressed personal concern stating "I, too, am personally affected by these issues." (Business Standard, January 17, 2024). The question is, does the Health Minister's statement alone mean that all unlicensed private hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centers will be closed? Certainly not. However, it was very important for the government to clarify this stance. At least Dr. Samanta Lal Sen has taken the initiative to address this issue.

The question is, even if you go to registered hospitals, clinics, or diagnostic centers, can people get quality services at affordable prices? It's not that easy. The impact of an event will be discussed for as long as its echoes persist; it will be reported in the media. People will express their reactions on social media, but gradually, along with the arrival of new issues, we will forget about Ayan. We will forget that around our homes or offices, there are many hospitals, both registered and unregistered, where instead of trying to make a sick person healthy, their ruthless attempt is to extract money from them. Therefore, it is not unusual that relatively affluent individuals in a country with such a fragile healthcare system would seek medical treatment abroad.

The Prime Minister, due to his patriotism, receives medical treatment in the country's hospitals. It is not that the rest do not have patriotism; But most of them go for treatment outside the country because they do not trust the hospitals and doctors here.

Many people go abroad for mental peace. Some join in medical tourism. Others go for more complex issues. However, when people seek treatment outside the country even for common problems, it indicates a lack of faith in the healthcare system of their own country.

Therefore, gaining trust is a new challenge for the new Health Minister. He mentioned that he is aware of the healthcare crises in the country. However, solving all the crises within a short period is challenging, even for the Prime Minister herself. Nevertheless, it is necessary to start. One way to begin could be by compiling a list of unregistered hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centers in the country. If desired, each district's Civil Surgeon office can send this list within one week. However, if those responsible for compiling the list remain silent due to bribery, it will not be possible to create an accurate list even for the Prime Minister herself.

The second task could be to ensure that the examination, diagnostic equipment, and medical facilities of these private hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centers are in proper working condition and effective. It should be verified whether those responsible for conducting examinations and treatments at these places hold appropriate certificates and possess the necessary skills. Immediate legal measures need to be taken wherever irregularities are observed.

If the new Health Minister can bring these private hospitals under a unified set of rules within the first three months, it will be a monumental task. However, it should be kept in mind that the entire medical sector in the country is under the influence of a vast mafia network. Typically, doctors from government hospitals also work in these private hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centers.

Many doctors spend more time in private hospitals than their assigned duties in government hospitals – this allegation is quite old. As a result, trying to bring private hospitals and clinics within the bounds of regulations may occasionally reveal some harsh truths.

It is time to look into what is taught in private medical colleges, in what process and how many actually become doctors after passing MBBS from there. Because there are stories that many people are afraid to take an injection from a private medical doctor after hearing it. It may be an exaggeration or exaggerated story. But there must be a reason behind the prevalence of such stories in the society. Because various types of complaints are heard about studies in private medical collages. The new health minister has to help in this area as well. However, the concern of encountering a negative response or rejection exists when extending a hand in those situations.

Dhaka Medical's small burn unit is a huge institute today. Dr. Samanta Lal Sen is the protagonist. Therefore, even if he receives any negative response or any challenge, he also knows how to face it.

However, it is also true that if the medical professionals' organization, its administration, and the politically influential figures and businessmen controlling health policies do not cooperate with it, or if they are not genuinely sincere in addressing irregularities and corruption in this sector, then it will not be possible to take effective action solely on the part of the Health Minister.

Because wherever extends his hand, he will notice that some influential individual or group is watching with keen interest. He might overlook the fact that the eyes are watching, but whether he can carry out the task until the end despite the oversight is a colossal question.

However, we would like to believe that he will succeed. Saying that no one has been able to do it so far does not necessarily mean that no one will be able to do it in the future; that is certainly not the case. Let the dawn of change be heralded by Dr. Samanta Lal Sen.

Author: Current Affairs Editor, Nexus Television.