Health minister furious at medical supplies in hospital rubbish dump, orders probe at Mymensingh Medical
Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain Bokul has expressed anger after seeing widespread mismanagement during a surprise inspection of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. He ordered a swift investigation and report into the discovery of used medical supplies — including cannulas and syringes — lying in the hospital's rubbish dump, and said action would be taken against those found negligent in their duties.
The health minister paid the surprise visit to the hospital at noon on Saturday (24 October). He toured the hospital's labour ward, measles isolation ward and dengue ward, and also monitored patient care, the ward environment and the state of the washrooms.
The minister expressed anger on seeing dirt and rubbish lying on the ground floor of the hospital's new building. He also voiced concern over the used cannulas, syringes and medical supplies found in the rubbish dump and ordered the investigation report to be submitted quickly.
The health minister also expressed anger that doctors, nurses and other staff were not arriving at the hospital on time. He said action would be taken against those concerned if neglect of duty is proven.
In another incident during the visit, the health minister asked why a patient in the gynaecology ward had to buy saline from outside. He directed the hospital authorities to take the necessary steps over the incident, and at the same time gave the patient one thousand taka to buy saline.
Earlier that morning, the health minister had paid surprise visits to the Fulpur and Tarakanda upazila health complexes in the district, where he also ordered action over various irregularities. He outlined various plans to improve the quality of healthcare and develop infrastructure at the upazila level.
The minister said there is a plan to upgrade the Fulpur and Tarakanda upazila health complexes to 151 beds. He also said large-scale tenders would be invited in the country's health sector within the next 15 to 20 days — tenders worth around 16,000 crore taka, according to him.
The health minister further said initiatives are being taken to supply radiotherapy machines for cancer treatment in the country, introduce five robotic surgery systems and recruit five thousand nurses. He also spoke of plans to raise the rate of normal deliveries through the recruitment of midwives and to expand healthcare services at the union level.
The health minister added that old community clinics would gradually be converted into family wellbeing centres, with initiatives taken to supply them with necessary medicines.
Present during the inspection were Mymensingh Medical College Hospital director Brigadier General Zakir Hossain, Mymensingh Development Authority chairman Motahar Hossain Talukdar, divisional health director Dr Pradip Kumar Saha, deputy commissioner Saifur Rahman and district police superintendent Mohammad Kamrul Hasan, along with other officials concerned.
Coming amid outbreaks of measles and dengue, the minister's surprise inspection and stern directives at one of the country's largest treatment facilities have intensified the ongoing discussion about management in the health sector.
All eyes are now on the investigation report — who is responsible for dumping medical supplies in the rubbish heap, and what action is taken against whom on charges of negligence, will only be known once the report is submitted.
