Reza Mahmud :
Patients, mostly the poor female and ignorant, suffer from brokers’ unnecessary interference at the Dhaka National Medical Institute Hospital (DNMIH).
It is alleged that the brokers exploit the situation by extorting money from the patients and their attendants promising to get them admitted and other health services in the hospital in return.
Yet patients, particularly the poor patients from Sadarghat, Banglabazar, Johnson Road, Laxmibazar, Tantibazar, Shakharibazar and other side of the river Buriganga come up this hospital because of its comparatively lesser costs.
According to witnesses, as most of the female and ignorant patients of these areas move towards this hospital, the brokers take it as an opportunity to make money.
“I came here on Thursday from Chunkutiya, on the other side of the river Buriganga, with my sick baby daughter for treatment. When I asked a man at the main gate of the hospital where could I get doctor, he demanded Tk 500 for visiting a doctor. After bargaining, I gave him Tk 200, and he went away asking me to wait there.
But finally he did not return,” said Shila Rani Das.
Shila Rani said that she finally found the ticket counter and the doctor.
An official from ticket counter preferring anonymity said, “Yes, there are some brokers here. But their activities are now very limited. Most of their activities are now under control, as the hospital authorities have installed some close circuit cameras here.”
But the victims differed with the statement of the official, saying brokers are still active on the hospital premises. Virtually they control everything here.
One of them also alleged that officials at the reception desk are very indifferent with the patients.
“Some of them are not helpful. Whenever any patient or his attendant asks for any information about doctors, nurses or services, they ignore. If you then ask repeatedly, they show anger. Thus the brokers are getting chance to deceive the patients,” said an attendant of a patients in the hospital.
In contrast, some patients have praised the hospital saying that the environment has improved nowadays.
“I have seen in the past a lot of cockroaches in the hospital beds, even beside the foods of the patients. But now the environment is getting better. Cockroaches are now very few. The cleaners wash the floors several times a day,” said Abdullah, a patient and nearby resident.
Atique Hasan, another nearby resident of the hospital, said they love the hospital most, as an old health institute in the area.
According to officials, Dhaka National Medical Institute Hospital was established in 1925. A rule was issued by the government for the DNMIH that a Management Board would be formed henceforth for every three years of its proper administration.
The government also granted a yearly financial allotment for the hospital according to the need assessed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The annual initial financial grant for the hospital was Tk Two crore. But now it has been raised to Tk. 5.50 crore. When contacted, Dr. Captain (Retd.) M.A Salam, Director of the Hospital, said, “Miscreants and brokers cannot do their misdeeds easily as in the past. Nowadays they are captured by our close circuit cameras.”
He said, “Some days ago a miscreant stole a mobile phone set from a woman in the hospital. Our staff caught him after watching the misdeeds through the CC TV footage.”
The Director said, “The 650-bed hospital offers a full range of clinical services and is supported by a team of highly qualified consultants and skilful technical staff.”
Patients, mostly the poor female and ignorant, suffer from brokers’ unnecessary interference at the Dhaka National Medical Institute Hospital (DNMIH).
It is alleged that the brokers exploit the situation by extorting money from the patients and their attendants promising to get them admitted and other health services in the hospital in return.
Yet patients, particularly the poor patients from Sadarghat, Banglabazar, Johnson Road, Laxmibazar, Tantibazar, Shakharibazar and other side of the river Buriganga come up this hospital because of its comparatively lesser costs.
According to witnesses, as most of the female and ignorant patients of these areas move towards this hospital, the brokers take it as an opportunity to make money.
“I came here on Thursday from Chunkutiya, on the other side of the river Buriganga, with my sick baby daughter for treatment. When I asked a man at the main gate of the hospital where could I get doctor, he demanded Tk 500 for visiting a doctor. After bargaining, I gave him Tk 200, and he went away asking me to wait there.
But finally he did not return,” said Shila Rani Das.
Shila Rani said that she finally found the ticket counter and the doctor.
An official from ticket counter preferring anonymity said, “Yes, there are some brokers here. But their activities are now very limited. Most of their activities are now under control, as the hospital authorities have installed some close circuit cameras here.”
But the victims differed with the statement of the official, saying brokers are still active on the hospital premises. Virtually they control everything here.
One of them also alleged that officials at the reception desk are very indifferent with the patients.
“Some of them are not helpful. Whenever any patient or his attendant asks for any information about doctors, nurses or services, they ignore. If you then ask repeatedly, they show anger. Thus the brokers are getting chance to deceive the patients,” said an attendant of a patients in the hospital.
In contrast, some patients have praised the hospital saying that the environment has improved nowadays.
“I have seen in the past a lot of cockroaches in the hospital beds, even beside the foods of the patients. But now the environment is getting better. Cockroaches are now very few. The cleaners wash the floors several times a day,” said Abdullah, a patient and nearby resident.
Atique Hasan, another nearby resident of the hospital, said they love the hospital most, as an old health institute in the area.
According to officials, Dhaka National Medical Institute Hospital was established in 1925. A rule was issued by the government for the DNMIH that a Management Board would be formed henceforth for every three years of its proper administration.
The government also granted a yearly financial allotment for the hospital according to the need assessed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The annual initial financial grant for the hospital was Tk Two crore. But now it has been raised to Tk. 5.50 crore. When contacted, Dr. Captain (Retd.) M.A Salam, Director of the Hospital, said, “Miscreants and brokers cannot do their misdeeds easily as in the past. Nowadays they are captured by our close circuit cameras.”
He said, “Some days ago a miscreant stole a mobile phone set from a woman in the hospital. Our staff caught him after watching the misdeeds through the CC TV footage.”
The Director said, “The 650-bed hospital offers a full range of clinical services and is supported by a team of highly qualified consultants and skilful technical staff.”
