Sylhet  Bureau 

 Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain has expressed his determination to make every public hospital across the country free from brokers. 

At the same time, he directed officials concerned to resolve all drainage and cleanliness issues at Sylhet hospitals within seven days to ensure proper healthcare services in the region.

The Minister made these statements while talking to journalists on Friday  following an inspection of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, the Sylhet 250-Bed District Hospital, and Shahid Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital. Commerce Minister Khondokar Abdul Muktadir was also present during the visit.

The Health Minister stated that it is unfortunate that a syndicate misleads patients with false assurances to divert them to various private clinics. He noted that law enforcement agencies, including the DGFI and RAB, are working jointly to apprehend these broker syndicates. Numerous hospital drives have already been conducted, significantly reducing broker harassment compared to before.

Regarding ongoing operations against unauthorized clinics and fake doctors, Sakhawat Hossain stated that mobile courts are being conducted regularly in districts through Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Civil Surgeons. During these operations, illegal establishments are fined, and clinics are sealed off where necessary.

Responding to a query regarding physician attendance, the Health Minister shared that during his inspections of over 25 hospitals in the past month, he observed 100 percent attendance among doctors. 

Addressing the measles outbreak, the Health Minister explained that because regular measles vaccination campaigns were paused for a prolonged period after December 2020, the number of unvaccinated children increased, leading to infections.

  He assured that vaccination efforts are ongoing using adequate vaccine supplies sourced with support from the World Bank and UNICEF.