The government will set the minimum wage scales for physicians and nurses working in private hospitals, said Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Prof Dr Md Sayedur Rahman. He came up with the disclosure while speaking at a press conference at the Ministry of Health in Dhaka on Thursday. "A pay scale has been demanded for physicians working in private medical institutions. However, implementing a uniform pay scale is challenging due to the lack of a standard structure. The salary scale for physicians will vary across Dhaka, other major cities, district towns, upazila towns, and different medical service institutions," he said. Health services disrupted at KMCH in absence of director, other physicians Sayedur Rahman said they would place proposals regarding the minimum salary structure of physicians and nurses, who are working in the private healthcare organisations, after holding meetings with stakeholders, including owners of the firms. He hoped that they would be able to announce the pay scale within a few days.

Healthcare services at the Bagerhat 250-bed hospital have been severely hampered for years due to a shortage of doctors, inadequate funding, and an ongoing crisis of hospital beds. Despite being the district’s main healthcare facility, the hospital continues to operate with resources meant for a 100-bed capacity, locals say. According to hospital records, 33 out of 58 physician posts remain vacant, creating a critical gap in patient care. The anesthesiology department, essential for surgeries and emergency interventions, has only one junior consultant. Due to this shortage, treatments for cardiac, ophthalmological, and ENT (ear, nose, and throat) patients have been suspended. Other vital services remain non-functional. The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) has been shut down after running for just one year, and kidney dialysis services have yet to begin, forcing critically ill patients to seek treatment elsewhere. With 400 patients admitted daily—far exceeding the hospital’s 250-bed capacity—many are forced to sleep on the floor, even in winter. During a visit to the hospital, patients were found lying on the floors of corridors, stairways, and near nurses' counters due to a lack of space. Md Zahid, a patient from Muginj, has been receiving treatment on the floor for four days. "I haven't received any food from the hospital," he said. Other patients, Eskendar Ali Sardar and Zihad Talukdar, shared similar experiences. Patients struggle at Pangu Hospital with 'No Empty Bed' persistent claim Nurses say they are overwhelmed by the heavy workload. Each nurse attends to 40-45 patients daily, making it nearly impossible to provide quality care. “We receive food allocations for only 40 patients, but we often have 75 to 80 admitted, leaving many without meals,” said Nilufa Khanom, a nurse in the surgery department. "This creates conflicts between staff and patient families." Established in 1970 as a 50-bed facility, the hospital was upgraded to 100 beds in 1992 and later to 250 beds in January 2022. However, its staffing and funding have remained at the 100-bed level, failing to match the rising patient demand. Currently, out of 10 senior consultant posts, only two are filled, and only four consultants are available out of 15 posts. The situation is even worse in the anesthesiology department, where just one doctor is available out of six. Meanwhile, the outpatient department sees 1,200 to 1,500 patients daily, while the emergency unit handles 250 cases—putting immense pressure on the hospital’s limited staff. Dr. Taposh Kumar Sarkar, the hospital’s resident medical officer, admitted that the facility is struggling to provide proper care to 17 lakh people in the district. Students besiege Naogaon Sadar Hospital over irregularities "Despite increasing the hospital’s capacity, manpower and funding have not been adjusted accordingly," he said. "Under such conditions, ensuring patient satisfaction is nearly impossible." He urged the government and local stakeholders to intervene immediately, warning that without urgent measures, the crisis will only worsen.

A case has been filed under the Human Trafficking Act against four people, including two physicians, on charge of stealing newborns in Rajshahi.  Syeda Tamanna Akhtar, a resident of Talaimari area in the city, lodged the case at Rajpara Police Station on Sunday.  Sub-Inspector Kajal Nandi from Rajpara Police Station said the accused in the case include Dr. Nishat Anam Barna from the Gynecology Department of Rajshahi Royal Hospital and Dr. Ali Chowdhury Rimon from the Anesthesia Department of the same hospital.  Police are currently conducting an investigation into the matter, he said.  According to the case statement, Syeda Tamanna visited Royal Hospital in Lakshmipur area of the city last Thursday with labor pains.  Based on the doctor's advice, she was admitted to the hospital around 2 pm and taken to the Operation Theater (OT) around 3 pm. After spending an hour in the OT, she was discharged.  The doctors informed them that there was no baby in her womb after the operation.  The patient and her family members said that she was expecting twins.  They claimed that after being taken to the OT and receiving anesthesia, she gave birth, but the hospital staff allegedly stole her baby. Tamanna said the ultrasound report confirmed that she was carrying a boy and a girl.  “If it was stillborn, they should have at least given it to me. Why did I carry a baby for 9 months and 12 days if my baby isn't here?” she said.  Dr. Ali Chowdhury Rimon said that the patient's condition was critical. He heard from her brother that she was carrying twins, and even the patient believed she had a baby in her womb. Therefore, he administered an anaesthetic injection.  Dr. Nishat Anam Barna claimed that a woman arrived at the hospital showing all the signs of pregnancy. Before an examination could take place, she went into labor.  “The patient's relatives failed to provide any documents or seek advice,” she said.   

Two physicians and six policemen are among 18 new coronavirus patients detected in five districts in the last 24 hours.   Bogura Deputy Civil Surgeon Mostafizur Rahman on Monday night said reports of eight people, including two physicians, came out positive.   So far, the district has recorded 179 cases.   In Khulna, six members of Khalishpur Industrial police and four others were diagnosed with coronavirus.   The policemen are - Md Ramjan, 51, Ajay Chandra Sarkar, Takbir, 20, Md Rafiqul Islam, Shahdhor, Al Amin, 20.   Besides, two men from Magura and Jashore tested positive for coronavirus.   In Thakurgaon, a couple has been infected with coronavirus in Baliadangi upazila.   The infected 23-year-old youth and his wife, 18, are readymade garment (RMG) workers. They recently returned from Dhaka to their Moheshmari-Kalmegh village.   Civil Surgeon Md Mahfuzar Rahman said the number of coronavirus cases rose to 63 in the district.   Bangladesh reported its first cases on March 8. Until Monday, the country’s confirmed coronavirus cases were 35,585.   Besides, 501 coronavirus-related deaths have been reported since March 18.

The dormitory of Sheikh Hasina Software Technology in Jashore is being used for quarantining physicians, nurses and other health workers amid the coronavirus outbreak.   The local administration said four doctors and six nurses have been kept in quarantine at the dormitory since April 25 after State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak gave the permission.

A physician and a health worker, were infected with coronavirus in the district.   Dr Himangshu Lal Roy, assistant director of Osmani Medical College Hospital, said 13 people were tested positive under Sylhet division on Wednesday. Of them, an intern doctor of the Osmani Medical College and Hospital and a medical staff of Shaheed Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital were found detected with the virus in the district, he said.   The reports of 134 people were found on Wednesday and of them 13 tested positive. Four people reported positive from Sunamganj, five from Habiganj and two from Moulvibazar districts, he said.

The High Court on Wednesday ordered the authorities concerned to recruit 117 physicians to fill up the vacant posts of jail hospitals across the country as soon as possible.