Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul has stated that people seek medical treatment abroad out of frustration and helplessness.
He made these comments on Saturday during the inauguration ceremony and annual general meeting of the newly elected executive committee of the Bangladesh Private Hospital, Clinic, and Diagnostic Owners Association at the Shaheed Abu Sayeed International Convention Center in Dhaka.
Addressing private hospital, clinic, and diagnostic centre owners, Dr Nazrul said, “By your estimates, the healthcare sector has a market worth four to five billion dollars. Why can’t you capture this market? Why do people go abroad for treatment? Even those who have never been to Dhaka are going overseas.”
He added, “People are forced to seek treatment abroad out of frustration and desperation. If adequate services were available here, no one would go abroad. If you can dominate this market, both you and the country will benefit.”
Dr Nazrul further noted, “Many doctors unnecessarily prescribe multiple tests. My domestic help, a poor boy, underwent 14 tests at a Dhaka hospital. Angry, he returned home and recovered without any tests. This sort of exploitation still hasn’t stopped.”
The legal adviser questioned, “Why must specific medicines be prescribed? Does any private clinic in the world allocate fixed times for pharmaceutical representatives to meet doctors? Do you need to act as middlemen for drug companies?”
Speaking to hospital owners, he said, “Aren’t you making enough profit? Many of you own garden houses worth crores. You can afford to pay nurses better. If a nurse earns just Tk12,000, will they provide good service? They’ll remain frustrated. You’re profiting, but it must be done fairly.”
Dr Nazrul added, “Today, people don’t want to go to India or Thailand. You have the capacity to provide adequate treatment – you proved as much during COVID. Even if profits dip slightly after raising staff salaries, service quality will improve. If you make Tk100 crore, even a 10% reduction would be offset by better care.”
The adviser urged owners to be more conscientious and ensure fair wages for employees.