Health Minister Samanta Lal Sen on Sunday directed the deputy commissioners to extend necessary cooperation in shutting down the illegal clinics and diagnostic centres across the country.
The directive was given during a meeting with the DCs at the second session of the first day meeting at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital.
Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated a four-day DC conference at the Prime Minister’s Office. During the meeting, the DCs portrayed a number of health related issues, including the shortage of beds in hospitals and manpower, sources said.
Emerging from the meeting, the health minister told reporters that the government assured the DCs of addressing the problems.
Yet, some dishonest individuals have been trying to keep those health centres open through illegal means. The divisional commissioners and DCs must be aware of it,” he said, asking the DCs to extend necessary cooperation to the teams which will conduct drives in closing those illegal entities. The health minister said the ministry does not have the judicial power.
“But the deputy commissioners have that power. We have told them that the DCs must inform the ministry if our teams face any obstacles while conducting drives,” he said, adding that the ministry wants to run the drive round the year.
When asked whether the physicians face problems as the number of patients are higher than the beds in hospitals, the minister said the doctors find it very hard to cope with the growing number of patients.
He assured of the DCs in addressing the problem.
Over the absence of physicians in hospitals, state minister for health Rokeya Sultana said punishable measures would be against the doctors for the negligence of duties.
“It is right that doctors often are absent in hospitals. Yet, patients in beds and on the floors are given the treatment. The service provided by the doctors must be mentioned too,” she said, adding that they would try to ensure quality service to the people.
Speaking at meeting, Jhenaidah DC urged the government to appoint experts psychiatrist at the government-run hospital as the rate of suicide in the district is high.
Rangpur divisional commissioner Habibur Rahman urged the government to take measures to increase the quality of service at the char areas of Roumari Upazila in Kurigam.
Sources said the government took the proposals seriously and assured the DCs of meeting the demands in phases.
During the session at the PMO, the PMO has instructed the DCS to take necessary measures to control the prices of oil, sugar, rice and other commodities during Ramadan, reads a statement issued by the Cabinet Division.
The DCs have also been asked to take special initiatives regarding the diversification of exportable products abroad as well as development of the leather industry and leather exports.
The issue of land acquisition for implementation of projects should be settled quickly and the implementation of the universal pension scheme should be accelerated, reads the statement.
