Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain has declared a firm commitment to rid all government hospitals across the country of brokers and middlemen.
Sakhawat has also directed the authorities concerned to resolve all drainage and cleanliness-related issues in Sylhet hospitals within seven days to ensure proper healthcare services.
According to a press release issued by the ministry, health minister made these remarks while speaking to journalists on Friday following his inspections of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, the Sylhet 250-bed District Hospital, and Shahid Shamsuddin Ahmad Hospital.
Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir was present during the visits.
Addressing the issue of brokers, the health minister expressed regret that an active clique continues to deceive patients with false promises, redirecting them to various private clinics.
To apprehend this broker network, law enforcement agencies—including the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)—are working in unison. He noted that multiple drives have already been conducted in various hospitals, which has successfully reduced the nuisance of middlemen compared to the past.
Regarding the ongoing crackdown on unauthorised clinics and fake doctors, Sakhawat said that regular mobile courts are being conducted across districts through the respective Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Civil Surgeons. Fines are being imposed on illegal establishments, and clinics are being sealed off as required.
Furthermore, clinical facilities where surgeries and medical services are being performed by illegal doctors or technicians holding fake certificates are also being shut down and sealed. Sakhawat added that he is personally gathering lists of these institutions and supervising the enforcement drives.
Responding to a question regarding the presence of medical staff, Sakhawat shared that he had inspected more than 25 hospitals over the past month and recorded 100 per cent attendance of doctors. He noted that following his visits, patients have reported improvements in both the behaviour of the medical staff and the quality of hospital food.
On the topic of the measles outbreak, the health minister attributed the current surge in infections to the absence of regular measles vaccination campaigns for a prolonged period after December 2020, which left a substantial number of children unvaccinated.
He explained that even after subsequent campaigns, a portion of newly eligible children, along with those who missed their doses due to a lack of awareness, remained unvaccinated, causing the virus to spread.
However, Sakhawat assured that vaccination campaigns are actively ongoing, with an adequate supply of vaccines procured in cooperation with the World Bank and UNICEF.
