PM asks docs to stay in rural areas or quit

Voicing displeasure at the unwillingness of government physicians to stay at hospitals in the country’s remote areas, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said if one fails to stay in his or her posted area, then he or she may quit job paving the path for fresh recruitment.“If they leave their workplace (remote hospitals), then they should discontinue their job. They can earn huge money if they carry out private practice staying in Dhaka. They may quit their job. We’ll then go for new recruitment,” she said.She further said: “When we appoint new doctors, and give them posting at the sub-district-level hospitals, they don’t stay there. This problem appears in case of government jobs. Whenever we post them, they somehow manage to return to or stay in Dhaka.”Sheikh Hasina was speaking before handing over the keys of ambulances to 98 government hospitals, sub-district health complexes and health institutions at a simple ceremony at her office in Dhaka.She directed the authorities concerned to maintain the standard of education in the country’s medical colleges for building quality physicians.“We’ve set up many medical colleges...but they need to maintain the quality of education.” Mentioning that internet services are now available across the country, the PM said it will be productive if students of medical colleges can follow the classes and lectures of quality colleges through the internet.She said foreign expert physicians should be allowed to come to the country’s medical institutions.“If that can be done, our patients will not require to go abroad for medical treatment.”About the ambulances, Hasina asked the health ministry to create a maintenance fund during the formulation of the ministry’s annual budget so that minor repair works can be performed.She stressed the need for introduction of river ambulance services for the country’s islands and wetland regions.Noting that her government is taking healthcare services to the doorsteps of people, the Prime Minister directed all concerned to concentrate on ensuring health services.She said directives have already been given to the Housing and Public Works Ministry to build multistoried buildings at sub-district level where physicians and other officials could stay paying rent.Hasina underscored the need for more gastroenterologists as the country has few physicians in this field.She said a trust fund would be created for community clinics so that no one can halt their work in the future as the BNP-Jamaat government did. The BNP-Jamaat government had taken a suicidal step by closing the clinics.“If they come to power, they will shut down those again,” she said.Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohamed Nasim, State Minister Zahid Maleque, Health Services Division Secretary Serajul Huq Khan and Director General for Health Services Prof Abul Kalam Azad also spoke on the occasion.Liberation War Affairs Minister A K M Mazammel Huq, Prime Minister’s Adviser H T Imam and State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Narayan Chandra Chanda present on the occasion.Later, Sheikh Hasina formally handed over keys of seven ambulances to authorities of the Bandaran Sadar Hospital, Sub-district Health Complexes of Tungipara in Gopalganj, Rajibpir in Kurigram district, Fultala in Khulna, Kendua in Netrakona, Kaliakoir in Gazipur district and the National Institution of Cardiovascular Diseases in Dhaka.A total of 60 Toyota ambulances brand procured at a cost of 4.1mn taka each would be handed over this month, while 38 more such ambulances will be handed over next month.The ambulances were procured with funding from the revenue budget of the Health Services Division under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to further improve health services.