Health minister makes surprise visit to Mugda hospital over irregularity claims

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain made an unannounced visit to Mugda Medical College Hospital in Dhaka on Friday morning (September 11) to inspect allegations of irregularities and assess the quality of patient services.

The minister toured several wards, spoke with doctors and patients and visited the hospital’s dengue ward during the inspection.

Husain said he was told that some patients were being sent outside the hospital for diagnostic tests despite the facility having the necessary equipment and services.

“This is forcing patients to pay out of pocket,” he said, noting that the government provides funding for patient treatment and that the hospital has the capacity to conduct the required tests.

The minister said Mugda hospital has all the necessary diagnostic facilities for detecting dengue. After reviewing patients’ documents and speaking with them, he found that many had been getting tests done outside the hospital.

He said the government had prioritised Mugda Medical College Hospital for dengue treatment and provided it with the necessary support.

“Even after that, if patients are deprived of the services they are entitled to, it cannot be accepted,” Hossain said.

The surprise inspection came after growing complaints about the hospital’s services surfaced on social media. During the visit, several patients directly raised their grievances with the minister and called for urgent steps to improve the quality of care.