Community clinics need care
The problems
engulfing the health sector should be
identified and addressed properly
Speakers at a discussion at Tanore Upazila Health Complex in Rajshahi recently called for improving the essential services of community clinics for ensuring healthcare services to the grassroots people for their betterment. According to a report in this newspaper on Sunday, they stated that the district and upazila level officials and others concerned should put in their level best efforts so that the rural people can derive total benefits from the community clinics.
There is no denying the fact that the quality of healthcare has improved in the public hospitals in the country in recent times. Incidents of deaths of patients due to negligence of doctors at hospitals have come down significantly. This shows that doctors and others concerned have grown a sense of accountability. This augurs well but there is no scope for expressing complacency. A few isolated incidents that are bedeviling the achievements in the health sector should be addressed. Work abstention by doctors at government hospitals centering around minor issues causes immense sufferings of patients. Doctors should shun this culture immediately.
Most of the people of the country have to depend on the government hospitals for treatment of diseases. Very few people have the financial ability to undergo treatment at private hospitals that in most cases fleece patients in the name of treatment. Doctors should not forget that the state had to spend a lot of money for grooming them up as doctors. They should also not forget that they are pledge-bound by the lofty Hippocratic Oath that made their service mandatory under any circumstances.
There are incidents of medical equipments at the district hospitals and the upazila health complexes remaining out of order for months together jeopardizing treatment of patients. Since the sole objective of these hospitals is to render medical care to the ailing people, there is no justification for keeping the medical equipments out of use. The inoperative machines and equipment should be made operative immediately. The present government has done a lot for the health sector but much more should be done. The problems engulfing the health sector should be identified and addressed properly. It has become a common practice that good doctors avoid posting at upazila hospitals. It is the responsibility of the Health Ministry and the Health Department to look into this vital problem. The relevant authorities should monitor the healthcare services rendered at the upazila health complexes and community clinics.
