Kishoreganj Correspondent

Patients, particularly the illiterate ones,Kishoreganj 250 - bed General Hospital for treatment, suffer a lot has they are falling prey to temptation by brokers roaming in the hospital. At least hundred members of the gang have taken hostages from doctors and nurses to general employees of the hospital. Hospital patients and their relatives have become helpless under the influence of the cycle. Many patients have alleged that they have to pay additional money to get medical services.

Syndicate arw running ambulance business, sending patients to private hospitals while some medical staff are also taking additional money the name of arranging hospital beds and other medical services.
Kishoreganj 250-bed General Hospital is one of the medical centers of Kishoreganj.

Every day about 1400 to 1500 patients from different areas of Kishoreganj are treated in outpatient and inter department. Out of this, an average of 1,200 people are treated in the outpatient department and about 350 patients from inter-departmental admission and stay in different wards of the hospital.

On Monday , it was seen that the members of broker gang were hanging out in the doctor's room for a long time in the hospital.

Patients complain that the brokers hang out in the rooms of the doctors and other officials of the hospital, so patients from far away cannot get proper treatment. Taking advantage of the opportunity, the brokers take the patients to private clinics with various temptations

.Patient Asma Khatun and her relative from Jashodal of Kishoreganj Sadar were taken to a clinic adjacent to the hospital by a broker on the promise of better medical care. Later,she took tk.3500 from him in the name of pathology test. Noor Hossain of Binnati village made the same complaint. His wife Rokeya was handed a bill of 15,000 rupees after taking a clinic for a caesarean for less money. Later, the broker took a commission of tk. 3000 from that money. Noor Hossain lamented that health care activities are going on in the 250-bed general hospital in this condition.

According to various sources, the brokers are extorting the patient's relatives, sometimes in the name of bringing medicine from the pharmacy, sometimes by telling them to meet a specialist doctor. Keeping up with the cycle, some doctors, nurses and staff also spread the web of fraud.

During the surgery, the members of the secret raffles with the nurses are given slips for the patient's relatives to buy expensive drugs from outside pharmacies. According to that slip, drugs or surgical materials are bought for a large amount of money and after being handed over to the nurse, most of the drugs and materials are sold outside without being used. Even while performing caesarean section, this gang extorts money from the relatives on the pretext of various expenses.

Nurses demand money as gratuity after the delivery mother gives birth. If not, their level of neglect towards maternity and newborn increases. Several patients, including Afroz Chumki of Latibabad village of Sadar Upazila, Bilkis Akhtar of Mohinand village, who came to the hospital for treatment, complained that the two brokers tried to take them to a nearby diagnostic center saying that the hospital did not provide good treatment. As they did not agree, the two brokers behaved rudely with them.

After investigation, it is known that the two accused brokers are Ramzan and Bashir. When the complaint was raised with them, they claimed that they earned some extra income by helping the patients. They said everything from selling land to brokerage is there. Brokerage is a business. So it is not right to promote our work so negatively.

In this regard, RMO Dr. Maksudur Rahman admitting the influence of the brokerb cycle, said that it is difficult to take action against the broker in the heavy rush of patients. If the mobile court works two days a week, the situation is bound to change. The hospital staff have been given strict instructions to be vigilant and not to engage in any malpractices. Strict action will be taken immediately upon receipt of complaint.

The Superintendent (Acting), also Deputy Director (DD) of General Hospital dr. Noor Mohammad Shamsul Alam told the New Nation that, 'This hospital already had brokers. Due to the presence of many diagnostic centers near the hospital, the broker's activity is high.

We regularly keep monitoring against any illegal syndicate and brokers. We also take stern action if any medical staff is found guilty. He also said , I am demanding a temporary police outpost in the hospital. It is possible to prevent the brokers by working together with the police and the public.