Dhaka, Aug 13 (UNB)-Ensuring health facilities for every citizen was one of the major election pledges of the ruling Awami League, but eighteen months on from assuming power, the government has been unable to finalize the Health Policy.

Disagreement between government functionaries and physicians on vital issues is the main reason behind holding back finalization of the health policy, officials told UNB.

The AL election manifesto said “in order to ensure health facilities to every citizen of the country, the health policy of the previous Awami League government will be re-evaluated and adjusted according to the demands of the time.”

Health Minister AFM Ruhal Haque presented the draft policy before the media on January 16, announcing it would be finalized within three months in light of public opinion.

In his draft policy he had proposed to increase per capita expense for health services to $24 from the existing $13, against the World Health Organization standard of $34.

Dr Mushtaq Husain, general secretary of Bangladesh Chikitshak Sangshad, told UNB the draft health policy has partially fulfilled the demands and aspirations of doctors and people.

“The main problem of this health policy is the continuation of privatization and commercialization policies of previous governments,”he said.

He said in the name of the people’s participation in cost-sharing and cost-effectiveness (Strategy 9 of the draft), the government hospitals are charging fees from patients for all the services.

Dr Mushtaq said the Prime Minister time and again reiterated that social welfare sector should not go by the principle of “profit-loss” like a business establishment.

“Is not health a social welfare sector?” questioned Dr Mushtaq and said a uniform system of patient management should be established for all government hospitals.

“There should be no paying bed or paying cabin system in the government hospitals,” he added.

If necessary, separate autonomous paying hospitals like BSMMU may be established. The government hospitals should be completely free, and more government hospitals should be established in the densely populated areas.

Dr Mushtaq viewed that the proposed health policy should ensure the preservation of all basic health structures, health data and epidemiological intelligence system in the state sector.

“An integrated disease surveillance system should be established using IT facilities,” he said.

Hailing the present government for setting up community health clinics, he said these facilities should be made full-fledged health centre for both preventive and curative services for 6,000 people.

“In the name of economic development, the private institutions in the health sector have turned into a repressive machine for the common people,” he said.

Sasthya Adhikar Jote (Health Rights Alliance), a platform of various NGOs, is working for ensuring proper health facilities to the mass people.

Talking to UNB, Abu Naser Khan, convener of Paribesh Bachao Andolon (PABA), one of those NGOs said the main philosophy and aim of the health policy should be controlling the ‘health commerce.’

“Health facilities must be ensured as a human right. The state has to take the responsibility for health services to the people,” Khan said.

He opined the government public services sector is being destroyed day by day for the benefit of the private sector. About the delay in finalizing the Health Policy, Health Adviser to the Prime Minister, Prof Dr. Syed Modasser Ali told UNB that the health policy is expected to be finalized by coming October.

The Adviser said the government is working to formulate the Health Policy in the light of views and opinion of health experts and a cross-section of the people.

“We are working to make the policy for the entire population, not only for the government.”

Dr Modasser said after the passing of August, the month of mourning, they are expecting to finalize the health policy in the next one or two months.