Dhaka, Aug 5 (UNB)-Twenty vigilance teams of the Health Ministry will conduct surprise visits from next week to monitor the functioning of the government hospitals and Upazila health complexes across the country. 

 

“The vigilance teams will start visiting health complexes from next week to monitor whether or not physicians and other staffs are giving proper health services to patients,” Health Minister Dr AFM Ruhal Haque told UNB after visiting Sirajdikhan Upazila Health Complex in Munshiganj Thursday afternoon. 

 

Dr Ruhal Haque went to the Health Complex as part of his surprise visit one day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s tough warning that the government will take stern action against the doctors who will not attend their duties regularly at rural hospitals.  The Health Minister said the government has already given appointments of about 3,500 doctors on Ad-hoc basis, 15,00 nurses, 6500 medical assistants and also ensured of supplying sufficient medicines to the hospitals.

 

“I think, we need to monitor whether they are providing proper services to the people or not.”   Referring to his visit at the 50-bed Sirakdikhan Upazila Health Complex, 35 Kms from Dhaka city, the Minister said he has noted down problems he found during the visit to the hospital. 

 

Dr Ruhal said stern action will be taken if found any irregularity in the future.  Earlier, the Health Minister talked with Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer (UHFPO) Dr Shopan Kumar Tapaddar and other on-duty doctors and inquired whether they are performing their duties regularly or not. 

 

The Minister warned the UHFPO that if any doctor found negligence of duty, he (UHFPO) will be responsible first for that.  He also urged the management committee of the hospital to regularly monitor to ensure doctors attendance as well as look after other problems. “It will be our bad lack if we fail to ensure medical services for our people,” he said. 

 

Later, the Health Minister visited Sirajdikhan Sub-Health Complex. He expressed dissatisfaction at the condition of the sub-health complex. However, he assured that he would consider upgrading it to a 20-bed sub-health complex.