Efforts needed to shut down illegal clinics and diagnostic centers

In the past 53 years, there have been significant allegations of mismanagement in the country's healthcare sector. In true sense, a professional healthcare management of international standards has not yet been established in the country. The same scenario is observed from the cities to the remote villages. It seems like the specter of improper treatment is constantly haunting us. Untimely deaths are occurring due to inappropriate medical practices. The recent deaths of child Ayan and Afanaf due to inaccurate medical practices while undergoing circumcision highlight the healthcare mismanagement in the country.

Observing such incidents, people are losing faith in the country's healthcare system. Consequently, those who have the means are increasingly opting to seek medical treatment abroad, be it in India for the middle class, Singapore for the upper-middle class, or Europe-America for the affluent. As the country's currency flows out, on one hand, on the other hand, people's dissatisfaction with the healthcare system is increasing day by day. As a result, people are deprived of proper care, which is extremely concerning for the nation."

It has been reported in the news that recently, both the general secretary of the ruling party and the secretary-general of the opposition party have traveled abroad for medical treatment. The need for leaders to go abroad for medical treatment raises questions about the country's healthcare system and creates dissatisfaction among the public.

However, why is there so much negligence regarding that fundamental necessity which concerns life and death? The death of a loved one is an irreparable loss for a family, yet in this country, human life seems to be treated as expendable. People are constantly dying in various accidents, and alongside this, there is negligence and mismanagement in healthcare.

Under the guise of healthcare, robbery has now become a reality in the country. There is a severe shortage of doctors compared to the number of patients in government hospitals. Consequently, one doctor often spends much less time with a patient than necessary. This situation has led to the proliferation of countless illegal clinics and diagnostic centers in the country. According to media sources, there are currently nearly 50 thousand private hospitals and clinics in the country. Among them, only 15,000 are registered with the Ministry of Health.

The question is, how are all these illegal hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centers operating? The answer is simple. Due to the pressure from upper level. Often, the pressure from higher level is not clearly visible, and it is speculated that these establishments may not be able to operate without the shadow of invisible power.

There is hope, as recently Health Minister Dr. Samanta Lal Sen has initiated a campaign to shut down illegal clinics and diagnostic centers. Just last week, the Health Minister announced that a total of 1,227 illegal hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centers have been shut down across the country within a month. Regarding this matter, he has also requested the cooperation of deputy commissioner in a Deputy Commissioner conference held last Sunday (March 3rd).

We may consider the Health Minister's assurance reassuring, but there is still doubt because the closure of such illegal establishments is sometimes sporadic. The campaign may pause for a few days after completion, but later resumes. Sometimes, these establishments reappear under different names or change locations. Not all illegal hospitals and clinics can be ceased under the pressure of invisible power.

The establishment of illegal hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centers is not the sole anarchic aspect of a country's healthcare system; it is also accompanied by the oppression of pharmaceutical companies and negligence by government doctors. Allegations exist that doctors are often absent from the government hospitals in the upazila. Health Minister Dr. Rokeya Sultana has also acknowledged this allegation.

It is noticeable that corruption in the country's healthcare sector is often highlighted in the media. Therefore, the first necessity in improving the quality of healthcare is to eradicate corruption from this sector. Alongside, there is a need for regular research, proper planning, and consistent monitoring. In this regard, our efforts are not inadequate. However, it is necessary to address the shortcomings in healthcare management for the overall health security of the general public. Alongside, maintaining transparency in all clinics and diagnostic centers across the country is also imperative.