Health Minister Mohammad Nasim told the parliament there is a registered physician for 1,847 people in the country, while a government physician for 6,579 people. Noting that the country’s total population is 158.1 million as per the Sample Vital Registration System (SVRS), 2015, the minister said that the number of physicians who are in service under the Health Department is 22,374 against total 24,028 posts.

The number of physicians is not adequate for the country’s burgeoning population. Besides, doctors often do not perform their responsibility sincerely and with a sense of commitment. Healthcare is one of the basic human rights. But how many citizens can enjoy the same? The overall healthcare scenario in the country does not show much promise. Healthcare for rural people is even more frustrating.               

What is worrying is that doctors, particularly specialist doctors, have very little time for patients. This in some cases leads to wrong diagnosis and the patients have to suffer ultimately. Some doctors have become so much commercial that money earning is their sole motto and treatment of patients becomes a secondary thing. This belies the Hippocratic Oath they take at the beginning of their profession.

The number of doctors, particularly specialist doctors, is inadequate according to the demand in the country. Some doctors say it is difficult for them to manage the rush of patients. This is a lame excuse. What matters is sincerity and sense of responsibility. A doctor’s lack of attention to his patient may prove to be fatal for the patient. Emergence of so many specialist doctors is not possible in a resource-constraint country like ours overnight. The doctors have to render their service within the limited resources.

A doctor should be more sympathetic to a patient. That is what a patient wants. It is expected that our doctors should be more alert in this regard in the interest of public health. There is no dearth of doctors who are habituated to dodging their responsibility in different hospitals of the country.

There are some physicians whose comforting words give a healing touch to the patient. Our doctors should keep it in mind that their keen attention can save many a life. For quality healthcare, this mentality should be changed.