Reza Mahmud :
Widespread allegations of corruption have been raised against Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC), a regulatory authority of the medical practitioners.
Everyday, a number of physicians come from different districts of the country to collect certificates and other necessary documents from
the BMDC but they have to encounter with some corrupt officials there, it was alleged.
“I have paid the fixed official rate of Tk 2,500 to get my certificate to the concern official but he demanded more. He warned that if I not meet his demand then it would take longer time to get the certificate,” said a doctor, preferring anonymity, who came from Barisal.
He also said, “The doctors are facing untold sufferings here by some corrupt officials. They are harassing medical and dental physicians everyday.”
Another doctor also alleged that, “Without giving extra money as demanded by the officials, you would not be able to obtain certificates in due time from BMDC.”
It is to be noted that every medical and dental physicians had to obtain registration as well as certificates from the BMDC. Without taking registration, no physician can involve in the profession physician.
“The physicians are facing untold sufferings here. The peons of the office are involved in collecting money from them,” another doctor preferring anonymity told this reporter.
According to BMDC sources, MBBS and BDS registration fee is fixed at Tk 1500, while the provisional registration fee is Tk 300 and the renewal fee of certificate for every five years is Tk 1000.
They said, medical assistant’s registration fee is Tk 750, medical assistant’s certificate renewal fee is Tk 500, stabilization certificate fee for MMBS and BDS is Tk 3000, duplicate certificate fee is Tk 1250 and, extra ordinary quality certificate for the physician is Tk 1000.
The physicians alleged that getting certificates at the fixed fees is simply impossible at the BMDC.
They alleged that peons are active there to collect illegal money. They (peons) are collect money on behalf of senior officials, it was further alleged.
“When a doctor enters BMDC office in city’s Bijoynagar area, most of the time the peons are the first to reach him. The peons come to him, saying they want to help him by serving necessary forms. But if one agrees with them to take help, they demand not only the fixed taka but surely extra money,” said a doctor who came from Dinajpur.
When asked, the register of BMDC, Dr. Mohammad Zahidul Haque Basunia, said, “We have not received any written complaints yet. If any one complaint we must take institutional actions against the concerned officials.”
“Almost from the top to the bottom officials are involved in corruption. How we dare to give written allegations against them? We have to take renewal of our certificates in every five years. And in case of missing, we need new certificate. When we are bound to go there, we cannot involve in fight with them,” said one dental physician from Dhaka.
When ask to set close circuit cameras to stop corruption, the register assured to consider it.
Widespread allegations of corruption have been raised against Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC), a regulatory authority of the medical practitioners.
Everyday, a number of physicians come from different districts of the country to collect certificates and other necessary documents from
the BMDC but they have to encounter with some corrupt officials there, it was alleged.
“I have paid the fixed official rate of Tk 2,500 to get my certificate to the concern official but he demanded more. He warned that if I not meet his demand then it would take longer time to get the certificate,” said a doctor, preferring anonymity, who came from Barisal.
He also said, “The doctors are facing untold sufferings here by some corrupt officials. They are harassing medical and dental physicians everyday.”
Another doctor also alleged that, “Without giving extra money as demanded by the officials, you would not be able to obtain certificates in due time from BMDC.”
It is to be noted that every medical and dental physicians had to obtain registration as well as certificates from the BMDC. Without taking registration, no physician can involve in the profession physician.
“The physicians are facing untold sufferings here. The peons of the office are involved in collecting money from them,” another doctor preferring anonymity told this reporter.
According to BMDC sources, MBBS and BDS registration fee is fixed at Tk 1500, while the provisional registration fee is Tk 300 and the renewal fee of certificate for every five years is Tk 1000.
They said, medical assistant’s registration fee is Tk 750, medical assistant’s certificate renewal fee is Tk 500, stabilization certificate fee for MMBS and BDS is Tk 3000, duplicate certificate fee is Tk 1250 and, extra ordinary quality certificate for the physician is Tk 1000.
The physicians alleged that getting certificates at the fixed fees is simply impossible at the BMDC.
They alleged that peons are active there to collect illegal money. They (peons) are collect money on behalf of senior officials, it was further alleged.
“When a doctor enters BMDC office in city’s Bijoynagar area, most of the time the peons are the first to reach him. The peons come to him, saying they want to help him by serving necessary forms. But if one agrees with them to take help, they demand not only the fixed taka but surely extra money,” said a doctor who came from Dinajpur.
When asked, the register of BMDC, Dr. Mohammad Zahidul Haque Basunia, said, “We have not received any written complaints yet. If any one complaint we must take institutional actions against the concerned officials.”
“Almost from the top to the bottom officials are involved in corruption. How we dare to give written allegations against them? We have to take renewal of our certificates in every five years. And in case of missing, we need new certificate. When we are bound to go there, we cannot involve in fight with them,” said one dental physician from Dhaka.
When ask to set close circuit cameras to stop corruption, the register assured to consider it.
