TIB report on Jessore Sadar Hospital
Authorities realise 'extra' amount from patients, pocket Tk 3 lakh a year
Our Correspondent, Magura
Jessore Sadar Hospital realises an 'extra' amount of Tk 3 lakh from patients every year, according to a survey by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).The survey report said, the undue money is being realised under 17 heads, which is grabbed by the hospital authorities. This was revealed in a survey titled 'health service in 25-bed Jessore hospital'. The report also said that from July 2005 to June 2006, a total of 1,59, 770 patients were treated at the outdoor and 14,740 patients inside the hospital. The authorities realised an additional Tk 1 as 'ticket fee' from each of the 91 percent outdoor patients. Thirty-eight per cent of indoor patients had to pay Tk 25 as fee against the actual amount of Tk 7.70 as fee, the report claimed. During 2005-2006 financial year, patients also had to pay extra money for various tests including ECG and X-ray. These are in addition to tips paid to staff, nurses and ward boys for getting beds, using trolley and also for pushing saline, injections etc. the report said. Even for getting blood at times of emergency, they had to pay undue money to staffs. During the survey, 48 per cent patients complained that hospital toilets were filthy and not useable. Fifty-seven per cent outdoor patients told TIB investigators that most of the doctors examined them in front of the Medical Representatives (MRs) of different companies and some doctors also directed the patients to go to their private clinics or chambers. The doctors prescribed medicines for 94 per cent outdoor patients, but 65 per cent of them did not get any medicine from the hospital. Forty-nine per cent indoor patients were also deprived of medicine, the report said. The report however said that 48 per cent patients expressed their satisfaction regarding food and 57 per cent were happy with the security arrangement. The report was made available to this correspondent recently. TIB Jessore district joint-convener and leader of Sacheton Nagorik Committee (SNC) Prof Dr Mustafizur Rahman said the report also placed a 26-point recommendation to remove the prevailing problems and provide better service to patients. The function was addressed by, among others, TIB Research Officer Dipu Roy, TIB official Sadhan Kumar Das and SNC officials Abu Saleh Tota, Sheikh Golam Faruk, Fakhrey Alam, Sukumar Das and Mobinul Islam Mobin. Some doctors including Superintendent of the hospital Dr Hasan-al-Mamun attended the function. They rejected the TIB report.
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