Sorry tale of DMCH

Veritably, a kind of free-for-all is going on at DMCH where the top authorities have little control over a section of employees, particularly over the zealously guarded network of a vicious gang of third grade staff, who control all the important sections at the institution. A patient would get no help, not even entry in case of an emergency, until the palms of these felons are greased sufficiently. Only on payment of bribe that a patient in deathbed would get a cylinder of oxygen, which the hospital is supposed to make available immediately. The scenario at the outdoors is as depressing as anywhere at DMCH. Though outdoor patients are supposed to pay Tk.5 as ticket fee, the gang extracts as much as Tk.21 on an average per person. Even that does not end the harassment and negligence once they get entry to doctors' chambers. Stories regarding pilferage of medicines and medical equipment from the stores and keeping honest doctors and nurses hostage to their whims by the third grade employees abound in the media and yet we have not seen any drastic action taken against the corrupt elements.

There is acute shortage of hospital beds for patients in the city and the number of hospitals needs to be increased but that will not solve the problem of corruption and under-service unless a cleansing drive is launched in all the existing facilities. We feel the TIB recommendation for appointment of a health ombudsman and suggestions for making the hospital autonomous are points worth pondering. We also feel that involvement of qualified civil society members in the running of the affairs of the hospital would work as a deterring factor for the corrupt elements.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source