Clicky
National, Front Page

FGHT AGAINST CORONAVIRUS

A few doctors on duty


Published : 17 May 2020 09:53 PM | Updated : 04 Sep 2020 09:19 PM

Only three percent of the total registered doctors are working in the frontline in the ongoing fight against the novel coronavirus infection in the country, sources said.

According to the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council, the licensing authorities for physicians, there are over one lakh registered doctors in the country.

A source at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) told Bangladesh Post on condition of anonymity that only about 3,000 or three percent of total registered doctors are providing treatment for COVID-19 patients.

 “The rest of the 97 percent of the physicians are not directly involved in providing treatment for the COVID-19 patients,” the source said,

Official sources said public hospitals dedicated to the treatment of COVID-19 patients and other general patients are still facing serious crisis of doctors.

Public health experts said the current crisis of doctors can be solved by proper decisions of the government and by the sense of responsibilities on the part of doctors.

In the capital, there are 13 hospitals – 10 public and three private – dedicated for the COVID-19 patients where 1,538 doctors are working.Another 2,000 doctors are taking care of COVID-19 patients in hospitals outside the capital.

It is unknown why the majorities of doctors are apparently escaping duties for coronavirus patients.

According to the sources, COVID-19 hospitals are facing serious shortage of experience doctors. Many others COVID-19 hospitals could not be operated only for shortage of doctors.

However, there are around 27,000 government doctors in the country.  According to the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council, there are around one lakh government and non-government doctors in the country. Only Regent Hospitals and Sajeda Foundation are providing treatment for the COVID-19 patients from the private medical sector.

A few doctors are providing medical advice from distance on either video conferencing or simply talking on phone. Rest of the private medical college hospitals are escaping from providing treatment from the very beginning. They are not giving treatment for the non-COVID patients without having negative reports of COVID-19 tests.

Experts said the role of the physicians during this national disaster is very important.

Assistant ProfessorDr S M Shahadat Hossain of Kurmitola General hospital said, “The hospitals which are dedicated for the treatment of COVID-19 patients, should have more doctors.”

Dr Ayesha Akther, assistant director of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) control room claimed that they are about to overcome the shortage of doctors.

“This is a new virus. Every countrywith coronavirus is facing the crisis,” she added.

Dr Ayesha further claimed that they are working to solve the crisis of doctors by providing adequate logistic supports and safety gears for the doctors.

DrMobin Khan, President of the Private Medical College and Hospital Owners' Association said, “Some patients are believed to be hiding the symptoms of COVID-19 while they were admitted in the hospitals.”

“As a result, three private hospitals had to face terrible situation as their doctors were infected with the deadly coronavirus from the patients,” he reminded.

“As part of cautionary measures, they are now saying that the patients must complete their COVID-19 tests at first and then seek admission in hospitals,”DrMobin said.