Different newspapers yesterday ran reports based on the circular through which fees and charges for admission, outdoor/emergency tickets, paying beds, ambulance service, and most of the medical examinations were increased by, in some cases, as high as up to 400 percent. Upazila health complexes, however, did not fall within the ambit of the order that took effect from Saturday last.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain yesterday described the notification as 'highly irregular'. Talking to The Daily Star, he also said, "I didn't know anything about the order. Former health secretary Sarwar Kamal had ordered the issuing of the circular without consulting me."

In reply to a query, Mosharraf who claimed to have learnt about the circular from The Daily Star news yesterday, said, "I have already ordered cancellation of the circular as it didn't have my approval."

"In fact, I would never have approved such a circular which would mean immense sufferings to the people, especially the poor," he said adding that notification of such serious implications for the public should have had a cabinet summary.

AFM Sarwar Kamal last night told The Daily Star, "The proposal for rise in user fees was submitted to the finance ministry six months ago and was approved two months ago."

He said health minister knew about the proposal and circular all along.

About a month ago, at a co-ordination meeting attended by all heads of health departments, Joint Secretary (hospital) Fazlur Rahman raised the issue of increasing user fees, said Sarwar adding that he himself had explained it in detail to the health minister.

The very meeting had decided to issue a circular asking the authorities concerned to implement the new user fees, he observed.

The minister had even signed the minutes of the meeting, said the former health secretary.

Official documents show that copies of the five-page circular signed by Abdul Mannan, senior assistant secretary of the health ministry, were sent to 13 officials including the health minister, both the director generals of health services and family planning, and the chief accountant of the ministry.