Health Minister fumes as patient told to buy saline despite hospital stock

Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain has expressed anger after a patient at Naogaon General Hospital was allegedly asked to buy saline from outside despite the hospital having adequate stock.

The minister personally reimbursed the patient for the cost of the saline and warned the nurse responsible for the incident.

The incident occurred around 10:30am when the health minister made an unannounced inspection of the 250-bed Naogaon General Hospital on Sunday morning (August 23).

During his nearly hour-long visit, Sakhawat inspected several wards, the operating theatre, pharmacy and kitchen, while speaking with patients and checking the quality of healthcare services.

At one point, he learned that a patient had been asked to purchase saline from outside even though the hospital had the required supply in stock. The minister expressed his displeasure with the nurse concerned and later reimbursed the patient from his own pocket.

After the inspection, the minister went to the hospital superintendent’s office and called doctors who were absent from duty on their mobile phones, asking them to explain their absence.

Speaking to reporters, Sakhawat said he had found several irregularities during the inspection, including the failure to provide available saline to a patient and the absence of a doctor. He said hospital authorities had been warned over the issues.

The minister also said the government was taking various measures to strengthen healthcare services at the grassroots level. Bed capacity and other facilities at upazila health complexes would be expanded soon, he added.