Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina, in yet another visionary role model decision,
has made her desire known that in case of medical treatment she will
prefer to avail it in the country - instead of rushing abroad. This
reflects her patriotic mindset and serves a reminder to others who
now-a-days go abroad for treatment of any ailment for which world class
treatment is available in Bangladesh.
The craze for foreign treatment
reached such a height these days that people go to Singapore, Bangkok,
London and other places even for 'headache" or simple eye sore! This is a
special privilege often misused by many including Ministers, Members of
Parliament, ruling party leaders and others. They find it the easiest
way to have very expensive tests or treatment abroad by spending huge
money from the state coffer. This also offers them chance to visit
places of historic and natural beauty, and to meet children and
relatives living in foreign countries at cost of nothing from their own
pocket. This is a state-paid holiday under cover of medical treatment -
which is easily available in Bangladesh.
It can be noted that over
the past decades, medical facilities in Bangladesh have tremendously
improved but many either do now know this or simply ignore.
Previously,
critical patients used to go to India, especially Kolkata, to seek
better treatment. Lately the craze is for Vellore, Madras, Chennai and
other far flung Indian cities with options for site seeing, fancy dining
and time for gossiping and making friends. Now the canvas is much
wider.
As the big guys like Ministers and the President always
choose foreign hospitals as their destination for "fixing" health,
hospitals in Bangladesh, such as the reputed ones like LABAID, UNITED,
SQUARE, DMCH and others have become somewhat impulsive and careless
while dealing with ordinary patients. The government and private
hospitals now feel there is no one to make them accountable or take them
to task for lapsing duties.
Unless someone truly big and powerful
arrives, the patients are left in hands of interns, junior doctors and
some apathetic nurses. Finding a professor on daily round is a matter of
sheer luck.
Not only the politically or monetarily powerful, the
hospitals often host "criminals" disguised as patients. They get VIP
treatment, better food and hospitality in air conditioned cabin while
the hospital corridors are crammed with people groaning in pain and
desperately needing good treatment. But they can't avail it for many
reasons beyond their control.
Lack of government control has made way
for cheating in the hospitals - where professors and experts rise up as
if by an "electric shock" only when a Minister or his like shows up,
escorted by personal security, police and party men. Once they are gone,
the services at the hospitals fall flat or become oppressive to the
ordinary patients. This has become an apparently irreversible tradition
in our country.
But Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's decision to seek
medical care in the country, unless going abroad has become unavoidable,
is an unprecedented gesture that shows her love and concern for the
people. She has, during her premiership, introduced many welfare
decisions that now added one more - take treatment at home. This will
serve as an eye opener and lesson that all should follow.
But in
Bangladesh, perhaps nothing will change until the Prime Minister -- not
as an individual but as head of the government -- issues an official
directive for all including the frequent fliers not to go abroad until
the last option for treatment in country has been tried.
And, a
foreign trip for medical purpose should be allowed only if a medical
board recommends so for life saving treatment. This rule will not only
apply to hi-fi officials and politicians but to everyone reporting sick.
They must face the medical board and follow its suggestion.
Bangladesh
has many people who amassed huge wealth by illegal income, fraud and
from mysterious sources. They top the list of foreign visitors for
treatment. Doing this, they take foreign exchange out of Bangladesh.
For
example, flying to a foreign country, let alone by air ambulance,
requires huge expenses that normally does not cover by the maximum
amount of foreign currency one person is allowed to take along. They
manage it by ducking fact and through cheating or using fraud. Thus,
they drain out Bangladesh's money, do business abroad and meanwhile get a
few routine tests at a hospital. Now if they feel feverish in the
morning, they get to Bangkok, Singapore ort Kuala Lumpur by evening !
This practice should be stopped - taking lead from the Prime Minister.
Sheikh
Hasina is a VVIP and her status is much higher than anyone else in the
country. Yet she opts to treat her health problems first at home. Then,
why others in her government, party and administration cannot afford
this, too? She showed us the way, we should follow this. But if we
don't, the state should make its move by announcing a health policy that
will restrict "un-required" medical trips abroad. And this policy
should be implemented and enforced rigorously.