Several private hospitals are charging patients with abnormally high bills, saying they were suffering from corona or any other fatal disease. The hospital authorities unnecessarily send patients to the incentive care unit for pressing higher costs per hour. Agents of different private clinics and hospitals always stay at public hospitals, namely, Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital to allure patients and their attendant citing lack of proper treatment and management at public healthcare facilities. In some cases, a section of public hospital staff covertly works for the private clinics in exchange for hefty money.
The agents working for those privately running substandard hospitals and clinics firstly spread panic in the hearts of the patients and their relatives about their illness and then used to take them in those targeted hospitals. Those hospital employees used to assure the patients and their relatives about so-called ‘sufficient’ medical treatments. Public health experts said that most of those hospitals do not have any real logistics capabilities to run an ICU bed. But they frequently admit patients in their nominal ICU seats. Several substandard hospitals used to drive away patients to their own from government and quality hospitals and cheat them for making huge money.
Poor healthcare, poor management and lack of cleanliness drastically lower the credibility and acceptance of public healthcare facilities among the middle to upper class. However, the public healthcare facilities across the country are still serving the people and ensure basic healthcare for all, albeit very limited. The public hospital authorities need to improve healthcare facilities, healthcare management and cleanliness to gain patients and their relatives’ confidence. And should be vigilant to stop middlemen meddling for substandard hospitals profiteering business. The DG Health, Consumers’ Rights Association, law enforcement agencies and doctors’ associations should jointly work for the betterment of public healthcare not for profit.
