Health minister makes surprise visit to Faridpur hospital, orders transfer of 3 nurses

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain made an unannounced visit to the Sadarpur Upazila Health Complex in Faridpur on Sunday morning, August 30, where he heard complaints from patients about various irregularities and problems in healthcare services.

Arriving around 11am, the minister spoke with patients, attendants and health workers to assess the overall service situation. He first engaged with patients waiting at the counters and those admitted to various wards, asking directly about the difficulties they faced in receiving treatment. He later inspected the nursing duty room, toilets, kitchen, medicine store and other parts of the hospital.

Patients and attendants raised concerns including shortages of doctors and other staff, as well as the unhygienic environment of the hospital. After hearing the complaints, the minister assured them of necessary action. He ordered the transfer of three senior nurses—Rina Rani Biswas, Susmita Kirtania and Shamima Akhter—to other locations.

During the inspection, the minister also noticed a shortage of medicines at the hospital. He called the Managing Director of EDCEL and directed him to take immediate steps to resolve the medicine crisis. He also instructed concerned officials to take necessary measures to ensure healthcare services reach people at the grassroots level.

The health minister said no negligence, irregularity or carelessness would be tolerated in ensuring healthcare services for the people. He mentioned that initiatives have been taken for new recruitment to address the manpower shortage in the health sector, adding that the existing shortage would be filled soon to ensure improved treatment facilities at the upazila level.

The minister also shared plans to expand kidney care facilities in upazila health complexes, with initiatives to install 10 kidney dialysis machines at each complex on a phased basis. He said on-site inspections at district and upazila hospitals are being conducted to identify problems in the health sector and take swift action.

The visit was attended by Faridpur Civil Surgeon Dr Mahmudul Hasan, Sadarpur Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Mominur Rahman Sarkar, Upazila Executive Officer Sharif Shawon, along with doctors, officials and local leaders.