Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul on Saturday said people seek medical treatment abroad out of frustration and helplessness.
“By your estimates, the healthcare sector has a market worth four to five billion dollars. Why can’t you capture this market? He said, addressing owners of private hospitals, clinic, and diagnostic centres.
“Why do people go abroad for treatment? Even those who have never been to Dhaka are going overseas,” the adviser said during the inauguration ceremony and annual general meeting of the newly elected executive committee of the Bangladesh Private Hospital, Clinic, and Diagnostic Owners Association.
The event was held at the Shaheed Abu Sayed International Convention Center in Dhaka.
He said, “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.”
Nazrul added, “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 has not stopped.
“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, the adviser 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 will remain frustrated. You’re profiting, but it must be done fairly.”
Nazrul added, “Today, people do not 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 per cent reduction would be offset by better care.”
The adviser urged owners to be more conscientious and ensure fair wages for employees.