Patients awaiting major surgeries at different public hospitals become hapless, as surgeons often skip their scheduled duties just to do brisk business in private clinics.
Many a patient allege that such ill-practice has turned a regular phenomenon at the public hospitals.
“I have admitted in a cabin at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital two weeks back for a major operation in my waist. But I am yet to get any schedule of surgery. When I asked about my operation, the doctors said there is no immediate date. I am uncertain when my operation would take place,” said a patient preferring anonymity in fear of backlash.
Another patient said he had been counting cabin rent for three weeks but failed to undergo operation due to lack of schedules from doctors concerned. He also blamed that the doctors remain absent as they are busy in private clinics.
The patients who this correspondent came across at Mitford Hospital, Suhrawardy and National Institute of Diseases of the Chest and Hospital narrated their woes, similar to the experiences at the BSMMU.
Some of the patients suffer from neuro problems, some from kidney problems, while some are orthopedic patients. Most of them need to undergo operation urgently.
But the doctors remain apathetic to these patients.
The patients blamed the doctors’ irresponsible attitude for their sufferings.
One patient said, “Being advised by doctors in out-door of the BSMMU for immediate surgery for my back side’s problem, I tried long for booking a bed there. But every day doctors said that they are sorry that there is no bed for booking. Then I applied for a seat in cabin in the hospital. I get a seat in the hospital after lobbying for a long time. But I am now frustrated that there is no sign of immediate operation though I am suffering from severe pain.”
Some doctors even do not visit their cabin regularly, a number of patients alleged.
When asked, nurses and other officials told the patients that the doctors are busy with regular operations in other big private hospitals and clinics even outside the capital city.
According to an official at a public hospital, the surgeons earn around Tk 1,00000 from each operation in private hospitals. But there is no chance to earn such a hefty amount in public hospitals.
The official said even the authority is also undone about those senior surgeons’ autocratic behaviour.
Another official said some of the senior physicians use to come to their offices in public hospitals like BSMMU, Mitford and others by ridding on the cars of private hospitals.
When contacted, Professor Dr Kamrul Hasan Khan, the Vice-Chancellor of BSMMU told The New Nation, “I have heard about such allegations. Please contact the Director of the Hospital.”
Brigadier General Md. Abdullah-Al-Harun, the Director of BSMMU Hospital, said, “According to law, the doctors of this hospital can give treatment to patients in private clinics.”
He said, “But if anyone is found ignoring their scheduled duties in the hospital he or she must face punitive actions in accordance with service rules.”
