DMCH under ACC scanner

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has found widespread irregularities, patient harassment and alleged corruption at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), with its chairman warning that patients are being deliberately diverted to private hospitals.

ACC Chairman Justice A K M Asaduzzaman expressed concern over tout syndicates, medicine shortages, doctors' absence and alleged medical negligence during a surprise inspection on Thursday.

A high-level ACC delegation, including Commissioners Dr Jahangir Alam Khan and Dr Md Sajjad Hossain Bhuiyan and Secretary Md Saidur Rahman Khan, visited the emergency department, wards and outpatient section around 12:30pm and heard complaints from patients and their relatives.

A woman from Matlab in Chandpur broke down in tears, telling officials that a tout had taken Tk 15,000 from her, promising to arrange her husband's transfer to another hospital for better treatment. She said she could no longer find the tout and that her family could not afford the loss.

The ACC chairman directed DMCH Director Brigadier General A K M Farhad Hossain to take immediate action against irregularities, corruption and tout syndicates.

Speaking to journalists after the inspection, Justice Asaduzzaman said the hospital lacked proper facilities and patients were being deprived of essential services. He also expressed concern over the state of healthcare across the country, saying the situation in rural areas could be even worse.

He alleged that patients were being deliberately steered away from public hospitals towards private facilities and called for an investigation into possible involvement of doctors.

The ACC would remain vigilant to protect people's right to healthcare and ensure accountability in public institutions, he said.

DMCH Director Farhad Hossain acknowledged longstanding management problems but said medicine availability and treatment quality had improved, with patients now receiving more than half of their required medicines.

The 2,600-bed hospital receives a huge number of patients daily from across the country. Despite the pressure, he said, the authorities were committed to ensuring that no patient was denied proper treatment because of mismanagement.

The ACC chairman said similar surprise inspections would continue at public service institutions nationwide to ensure transparency, accountability and proper service delivery.