Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday urged doctors to ensure that their political affiliations do not interfere with their professional responsibilities, saying political engagement is acceptable but patient care must come first.
“Political involvement should not interfere with or become a cause of interference in the discharge of your professional responsibilities-that is the most important thing,” he said.
The prime minister was speaking at a doctors’ rally organised by the Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) on the LD Hall premises of the National Parliament to mark the organisation’s 37th founding anniversary.
Tarique said political decisions in a democratic country affect almost every sphere of life, making it natural for students, teachers and professionals to be politically conscious or organised according to their respective beliefs.
But, he said, such involvement must not come at the cost of professional duties.
He urged DAB members to remain particularly vigilant about the matter.
‘Infrastructure alone cannot ensure success’
Speaking about the healthcare sector, Tarique said the government had decided to increase the capacity of upazila health complexes to 101 beds and was planning to introduce health cards soon.
But infrastructure development alone would not be enough to improve healthcare, he said.
“I firmly believe that if doctors do not dedicate themselves to their profession with a genuine spirit of service, we will not succeed through infrastructure development alone,” the prime minister said.
He acknowledged that doctors face various constraints while carrying out their duties.
However, he said even instances of unintended negligence or laxity could undermine the government’s overall efforts and contribute to public distrust in doctors and the healthcare system.
People expect doctors to be more responsible and compassionate, he said.
Tarique said cooperation between the government and the medical community could help build a healthcare system in which people receive quality treatment at home and do not have to travel abroad for advanced medical care.
Doctors’ demands ‘not unreasonable’
The prime minister also addressed several demands raised by physicians, including special recruitment of doctors, an increase in the retirement age and enactment of a Health Services Protection Act.
“From the perspective of doctors, these demands may not be entirely unreasonable,” he said, while urging them to also consider the government’s present circumstances.
Tarique said the government had inherited a “fragile state”, with a weak economy, a divided administration and vulnerable education and healthcare systems.
He said the government was working to rebuild the country despite those challenges.
‘Beneficiaries of fascism are still active’
Tarique also alleged that beneficiaries of fascism remained active in the country’s political and administrative systems.
He said a group had recently become active in an attempt to destabilise the fuel and power sectors and was spreading misleading statements.
The government was aware of the difficulties people were facing because of electricity and gas shortages, he said.
“Many people are currently suffering because of problems related to electricity and gas. The government is aware of the situation,” Tarique said.
He blamed previous governments for adopting poorly planned policies and programmes in the energy sector, saying the country was now paying the price.
Policies designed to benefit certain quarters had left the country, its people and the current government to bear the consequences, he said.
Focus on practical plans
The government has already begun reviewing existing projects and programmes in the energy sector and is working on more realistic plans to address the crisis, Tarique said.
He said practical measures were also being taken to make the education, health and energy sectors more self-reliant and sustainable.
The government has allocated the second-highest budget ever to the health sector as part of efforts to modernise the country’s healthcare system, he said.
However, Tarique stressed that the government could not implement the initiatives alone.
He called on doctors in both the public and private sectors, from upazila to district level, to work with the government.
“Without the cooperation, support and assistance of doctors, it will not be possible for the government to implement these initiatives in the health sector,” he said.
Earlier, Tarique and his wife, Zubaida Rahman, planted two trees on the LD Hall premises before the doctors’ rally began.
The prime minister later hoisted the national flag as the national anthem was performed. He and Zubaida then released pigeons and balloons to formally inaugurate the event.
Dr Mostafa Adib Sumon presented a paper titled “Bangladesh’s health sector: From crisis to solutions”, while Saif Mohammad presented a paper titled “The rise of the national health system.”
DAB President Prof Harun Al Rashid chaired the programme.
Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Zubaida Rahman, Women and Children Affairs Minister Prof AZM Zahid Hossain, Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain, State Minister MA Muhit, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant for Health SM Ziauddin Haider and DAB Secretary General Zahirul Islam Shakil also spoke at the event.
