‘Ban medical reps, ensure doctors’ time for patients’

Medical representative who push their brands with lucrative incentives snatch away the doctors’ time supposedly dedicated for patients at public hospitals, a civic forum observes.

However, authorities say, such is not the case in Jhenidah Sadar Hospital where they have banned the representatives of pharmaceutical companies during the hospital hours.

Leaders of recently launched platform ‘Healthy Bangladesh’ heard the story during a civic dialogue on universal health coverage at Jhenidah pourashava early this week.

The hospital’s superintendent Emdad Haque civil surgeon Rasheda Sultana and pourashava mayor Saidul Karim Mintu narrated how they made certain improvement in the healthcare facilities meant for the commoners.

Inadequate time given by the physicians to patients is a major cause of poor health outcomes, the meeting was told.

The problem is found to be equally serious with private practitioners as there are allegations that patients receive physicians' consultation for as low as 1 to 2 minutes during a visit.

The civic leaders were informed that as against 216 posts of doctors in Jhenaidah district, actual number of doctors available was only 73, according to a press release issued by Healthy Bangladesh host PPRC in Dhaka on Wednesday.

It said Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital with the assistance of Community Support Platform, led by the mayor, has implemented a number of practical improvements that has given hope for a replicable hospital management model in Bangladesh.

The dialogue was part of a grassroots advocacy campaign titled ‘Prerona’, by the Healthy Bangladesh team.

Healthy Bangladesh convenor and PPRC chair Hossain Zillur Rahman led the team that included Gano Shashtahya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury, former secretary AMM Nasiruddin, former health directorate DG Abul Faiz, BRAC vice-chair Mushtaque Chowdhury, Wateraid country representative Khairul Islam, CIPRB director Fazlur Rahman, Everest conquerors Nishat Majumdar and MA Mohit and president of Municipal Association of Bangladesh (MAB) Md. Abdul Baten.

PPRC and Jhenaidah pourashava jointly organised the event covering a visit on school health, low-cost innovative housing, human waste treatment plant and civic rally.

Hossain Zillur Rahman announced launch of a countrywide ‘Model campus award’ competition for secondary schools.