Quality healthcare must be ensured
The health and family planning ministry observed 20-26 April as healthcare week, though, obviously, healthcare is a matter for all times. Patients must be provided with healthcare throughout the year. The objective of a health week is to highlight the various health programmes to the public so that they may avail the existing services whenever necessary.
There was another objective for the health week too. According to health minister Zahid Malik, this was also to ensure that the target of the UN-declared Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of healthcare for all was met by 2030.
The government has taken up all sorts of infrastructure projects to take healthcare to the people. This includes medical universities, new medical colleges, nursing institutes, post graduate nursing institutes and other medical educational institutions in every division. However, such educational institutions alone are not enough. These will need qualified and experienced persons to run them.
A patient’s life and death depends on proper medical care. There can be no shortcuts here. Unfortunately, not only are the private medical colleges lacking in competent teachers, but the new public medical colleges too have a lack of qualified and experienced teachers. Good physicians cannot be created in this manner. And quality health care cannot be ensured without competent physicians.
The government spent a lot on observing the healthcare week and this was not just a matter of show. During the week, some hospitals took up patient-friendly programmes, while some restricted themselves to just photo sessions. There is a big difference between the two. Before promoting public awareness, the concerned authorities must raise their own awareness.
The people will naturally expect improvements in service after this week was observed. They will want to see a change in the mindset of the physicians and the nurses. There are examples that encourage us. Patients and their guardians had good experiences during the week at the National Mental Health Institute and Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy Hospital. It is hope they receive such quality care throughout the year.
Despite its various limitations, it is heartening that the health and family planning minister managed to raise a sense of hope among the patients and their families. The persons involved deserve thanks. Again, everyone must remember that this is not just a matter pertaining to one particular week. Such service must be provided the year round. Also, corruption and irregularities in the sector must be curtailed.
The health ministry has taken up the five-year ‘fourth health, population and nutrition programme 2017-2022’. All concerned must work with sincerity and commitment to render this a success.
Health is one of the public sectors riddled with corruption in this country. It may not be possible to uproot the corruption completely, but it can be reduced considerably. This will up the quality of health care.
There have been reports of a fracas between the minister and the state minister in the health ministry over the transfer of the ministry’s officers and physicians. That is unfortunate. The minister and the state minister must work hand in hand if the ministry is to run smoothly. Appointments and transfers must be carried out in accordance to the rules and regulations. There can be no scope for any grievances or griping over the matter.