Health Minister's surprise raid on Noakhali General Hospital, caretaker closed
Noakhali Correspondent
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain made a surprise visit to the 250-bed Noakhali General Hospital on the instructions of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
During the visit, the hospital's caretaker Mohammad Farid Uddin Chowdhury was closed for failure in managing the hospital. At the same time, Noakhali Civil Surgeon Dr. Anar Hossain will perform additional duties as the temporary caretaker of the hospital.
On Tuesday , the Health Minister reached the hospital at around 1:30 pm and reviewed the medical services, the presence of officials and employees and the overall management on the spot. After entering the hospital, he checked the attendance book and duty roster.
At that time, evidence was found that most of the doctors and officials were late for work, according to relevant sources. When the news of the minister's arrival spread, patients and their relatives who came to the hospital for treatment crowded to talk to him. He heard direct complaints from them about the quality of hospital services, suffering and various problems.
At one stage of the inspection, the Health Minister visited the emergency department, outpatient department, pathology lab, various wards, and toilets. He also observed the cleanliness of the hospital, the stock of medicines, and the quality of various services provided to patients. The Health Minister expressed his anger after seeing the irregularities and mismanagement in the hospital.
Eyewitnesses said that when the minister left the room of former caretaker of the hospital, Mohammad Farid Uddin Chowdhury, around 3 pm, 100-150 followers of his syndicate immediately came with hand microphones and protested demanding the cancellation of his withdrawal. At that time, the minister left the hospital amidst a jostling. Patients and relatives expect that through this surprise inspection, not only irregularities will be identified, but also effective initiatives will be taken to permanently resolve long-standing problems.
Talking to reporters after the inspection, Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain said, there was a dictatorial government for 17 years. Then, during the caretaker government, there was a lack of necessary skills. The previous fascist government and even the caretaker government did not take proper initiatives in the vaccination program.
Later, after much difficulty, we were able to ensure the vaccination of children by collecting vaccines. Such a complex situation has been created due to long-standing mismanagement, irregularities and corruption in the health sector. We are seeing various problems in hospitals across the country; wherever we touch, a terrible picture is emerging. I came to Noakhali General Hospital and saw the inhumane situation. The construction of a new building is going on here, but its progress is very slow.
The caretaker cannot avoid the responsibility for the mismanagement we have seen today. That is why he has been closed. Noakhali Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Shafiqul Islam, Superintendent of Police N. M. Nasiruddin, District Civil Surgeon Dr. Anar Hossain and other concerned officials were present at the time.
