Patients deprived of treatment : Puthia Upazila Health Complex held hostage by brokers
Rakibul Hasan Rocky, Puthia (Rajshahi)
Puthia Upazila Health Complex has become a hostage to representatives of private clinics and pharmaceutical companies. Patients who come from far and wide for treatment are being harassed every day. As soon as patients leave the doctor's office, pharmaceutical company representatives who are there quickly insist on seeing the prescriptions, and brokers from private clinics and diagnostic centers hold the hands of patients and drag them to their clinics to get various tests done, according to several victims.
The investigation has revealed the names of some brokers working in the Upazila Health Complex! They receive government salaries but are strategically taking advantage of the naivety of the patients and sending them to private hospitals, clinics and diagnostics for various tests (40%). The accused are Bithi, Badshah Babu, working in the service sector, Tanjila, working in the lab, night guard Moon, nanny Bedena Begum, Zarina Begum, Jahangir of the ticket counter, family planning store keeper Swami, Bablu, master of the primary school.
It has been observed on the spot that pharmaceutical company sales representatives are allowed to meet doctors after 2 pm three days a week. Sales representatives are not allowed to meet any doctor in the health complex at any other time outside of these specified times. Even within the boundaries of the health complex, no pharmaceutical sales representatives and brokers or representatives of private clinics-diagnostic centers are allowed to stay. But no one is following the rules.
Local people and patients complain that the current condition of this 50-bed health complex has become a mess. Medical aspirants are harassed by representatives of pharmaceutical companies, brokers of clinics and diagnostic centers, and brokers of private organizations working in the hospital. Many are also falling prey to the brokers and being cheated. The brokers take away the patients' prescriptions and force them to take tests in their own institutions.
In the past few days, a few protesting youths led by Shamim Diver were seen protesting near the emergency room with the slogan 'Puthia Medical free from brokers'. At that time, the brokers attacked Shamim Diver. Shamim was injured after being beaten up. Then the police came and controlled the incident. Even then, the hospital was not free from brokers. Mainly due to the surveillance of the authorities, the negligence of the administration and the local heavyweight private hospital business syndicate, the entire health complex is still hostage to brokers. At the entrance of the emergency, the brokers are constantly seen ruling the hospital in a terrorist manner. It seems that no one is watching!
According to information provided by a hospital official who did not wish to be named, there are about one and a half dozen pathology centers and 10 illegal clinics in front of the hospital. Brokers from each clinic-diagnostic center work here. Doctors receive commission from the diagnostic center where the patient will be examined. This commission council of doctors is held in the first week of every month. In this, the doctor gets a commission of at least 30 to 70 thousand taka per month.
According to the health complex, there are a total of 23 diagnostic centers and 13 clinics in the upazila. The complaint against them is that almost all the institutions have hired multiple brokers of different ages. However, most of the hired brokers are women. They are paid six to seven thousand taka per month. In addition, the brokers get 40 percent commission on the test bill.
A deputy assistant community medical officer at the emergency department, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, "Patients often get annoyed by the abuse of brokers. We cannot protest due to the influence of local brokers."
Dr. Mohammad Janab Ali, Resident Medical Officer (RMO) of the health complex, said that the brokers quickly left the hospital after realizing the authorities' position. Taking advantage of the opportunity, they are no longer in the alleys.
Regarding this, Puthia Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Shuchana Manohara said, "I am new here, but no concessions will be given to brokers. We will quickly rid Puthia Hospital of brokers."
He also said that if government hospital staff are involved in brokerage, strict action will be taken against them.
In this regard, UNO Liakat Salman said, "I am not aware of the brokers. I am new to Puthia, but I will identify the brokers and take appropriate action against them," the official said.
