United News of Bangladesh

More than 23,000 posts of doctors, nurses and health workers remain vacant in government hospitals across the country, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain told Parliament on Wednesday. “Out of 41,806 approved posts for doctors in government hospitals, 9,407 are currently vacant,” he said, while replying to a scripted question from treasury bench lawmaker Khairul Kabir Khokon (Narsingdi-1). The health minister also said 5,032 of the 49,501 approved nursing posts remain unfilled, while 8,784 posts of health workers are vacant against a total approved 26,544 positions in the government hospitals across the country. As a result, a total of 94,628 doctors, nurses and health workers are currently serving against 117,851 approved posts in government hospitals nationwide.  

Negligence at Ad-Din Medical College Hospital led to the deaths of six infants, said Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain on Thursday. The findings of the Health Ministry’s probe body were presented at a press conference at Secretariat where the minister said the inquiry report clearly established serious lapses in hospital management and patient care. Exemplary punitive action would be taken against the hospital authorities, he said. According to the investigation report, the hospital’s air conditioning system in the affected ward remained non-functional for an extended period. The lack of proper cooling and ventilation created a severe oxygen shortage, resulting in a dangerous rise in carbon dioxide levels inside the unit. The probe committee also found evidence of gross negligence by administrative officers, on-duty doctors, and nurses responsible for neonatal intensive care. They were found to have failed in fulfilling their assigned duties and maintaining adequate monitoring of newborns. Besides, the post-operative ward was reportedly overcrowded in a small enclosed space, with patient numbers exceeding its capacity. This overcrowding further worsened the already critical conditions, contributing to the tragedy, the report said. Earlier on Monday, the minister said legal action will be taken over the deaths of six newborns at Ad-Din Hospital based on the findings of probe committees. On May 27, six newborns died in its postnatal ward at Ad-Din Medical College Hospital within three hours in Moghbazar area of the capital.  

Legal action will be taken over the deaths of six newborns at Ad-Din Hospital based on the findings of probe committees, said Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain on Monday. A probe committee formed by the Ministry is already investigating the incident while another investigation committee will be formed by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the minister told reporters after a meeting at the Secretariat. The Health Ministry sought legal advice from the Attorney General regarding the scope and functioning of the DGHS-led investigation committee, he added. "The formation of an investigation committee by the DGHS is necessary. Due to the Eid holidays, it could not be formed earlier. The committee will be constituted today and is expected tosubmit its report within three days," he said. He said the committee needs to speak with the mothers of the deceased newborns to make the report more comprehensive and practical. The ministry invited the Attorney General to provide guidance on the legal aspects of the investigation and on how to proceed in accordance with the law, he added. "We informed the Attorney General about the steps we have taken and the process being followed. He has provided legal advice and we will carry out the remaining tasks accordingly. We expect to receive the report within three days and will share the details afterward," he added. After the meeting, Attorney General Ruhul Quddus Kazal said discussions focused on identifying any liability and ensuring that appropriate legal measures are taken against those found responsible. The head of the investigation committee informed the meeting that the report would be submitted by June 3, he said. Deputy Attorney General Al Faisal Siddiqui has been included in the committee to provide legal support and ensure that no individual or institution found responsible can evade accountability through legal loopholes, he said. "The Health Minister sought legal assistance and I have outlined the relevant legal issues before the minister and the committee. We believe those genuinely responsible will face justice. We hope such incidents do not recur in the future," the Attorney General said. Meanwhile, the minister said Ad-Din Hospital authorities said it obtained a licence from the Department of Environment to operate a bakery on its premises. "We are examining how and why the licence was issued," he said. On May 27, six newborns died in its postnatal ward at Ad-Din Medical College Hospital within three hours in Moghbazar area of the capital.    

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain on Monday said more than 2 crore children across the country have already been vaccinated against measles, surpassing the government’s initial target. “The measles vaccination campaign is still continuing despite exceeding the target,” he said while speaking to reporters at Cumilla Medical College Hospital in the morning. The minister visited the medical as well as Cumilla General Hospital. He stated that children are being vaccinated under both routine Expanded Programme on Immunzsation (EPI) and special outreach programme. Sakhawat Husain said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is working sincerely to prevent measles and assured that various problems in the country’s health sector will be resolved gradually. Sixteen children died from measles-like symptoms in Bangladesh in the 24 hours till 8:00am on Sunday, the 2nd-highest death toll in a single day since the outbreak in March last. With the latest fatalities, the death toll has reached 528 this year.

Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain on Monday said the measles situation is expected to come under control within four weeks as vaccinated people will develop immunity during this period. The number of patients has already started declining, he said while talking to reporters after visiting Barishal Sadar Hospital in the morning. Measles vaccination was supposed to be administered every four years but the continuity was disrupted after 2020, leading to the current outbreak, he said The present government initially had no stock of measles vaccines but managed to procure them within a short time, he added. During his visit to Barishal Sadar Hospital, the minister first inspected the ticket counter and suspended an employee after finding him absent from duty. Later, he checked the attendance registers of doctors and spoke to patients receiving treatment. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) report, eleven more children died from measles and with measles-like symptoms across the country in 24 hours until 8:00 am Sunday, bringing the total number to 409 since March 15.  

More than 81% of children in Bangladesh have received measles vaccine and the government is working to achieve 100 percent coverage soon, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain said on Sunday. “We have achieved 81% coverage in measles vaccination. The remaining children will brought under vaccination very soon,” the minister said at a press briefing at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka after the second session of the Deputy Commissioners’ Conference. Measles is currently under control in the country and the death rate has declined significantly, he said. There is an adequate supply of vaccines and distribution across the country is running smoothly, he said. A nationwide emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign was launched on April 20 to vaccinate around 1.8 crore children aged 6 months to under 5 years across the country. Besides, on April 5, the government, with support from UNICEF, WHO and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, launched an emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign to protect more than 1.2 million children aged 6 months to 5 years in 30 upazilas in 18 high-risk districts. Meanwhile, 10 children died from measles and symptoms consistent with the highly contagious but preventable disease in the country in 24 hours till 8:00am on Sunday, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Of the new deaths, one was confirmed as measles-related, while the remaining nine were classified as suspected. Of the suspected deaths, highest four were recorded in Dhaka. With this, the total number of confirmed deaths from measles has risen to 50 and suspected deaths to 244 since March 15.

The government has reallocated Tk 604 crore from unused pandemic funds and secured around 2.19 crore vaccine doses with international support as part of urgent measures to combat a measles outbreak, Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain told Parliament on Wednesday. The government has launched emergency measures to contain a measles outbreak, including a nationwide vaccination drive and the procurement of millions of doses to replenish depleted stocks, he said responding to concerns raised by opposition lawmaker Rumeen Farhana during her call attention notice on urgent public important matters. Tk 604 crore from unused Asian Development Bank pandemic funds has been reallocated for emergency procurement and 21.9 million doses have been secured through Gavi support while an additional procurement worth Tk 419 crore is in its final stages, said the minister. To ensure transparency and avoid delays, the minister said the government is bypassing traditional tenders to procure directly through UNICEF. The minister said  41 deaths have been officially verified by the WHO and UNICEF as directly caused by measles. The minister announced that while a vaccination campaign began on April 5 in high-risk areas, the program will expand to Dhaka North and South city corporations and other major urban centers starting April 12. He noted that although Dhaka was not initially classified as a high-risk zone by international partners, the government is taking proactive steps to cover the capital. Acknowledging that the current administration inherited a near-zero stock of vaccines due to previous mismanagement, Husain detailed urgent financial measures to restore the supply chain. Addressing the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), the minister highlighted a shift to multi-dose vials to improve storage efficiency and meet WHO cold chain standards. He also addressed workforce shortages, stating that the government is moving to clear outstanding salaries for field-level health workers within days to ensure the vaccination drive remains effective. Earlier, Rumeen Farhana cited data suggesting higher fatalities and warned of the long-term risks of measles-induced immune suppression among children. She also raised alarms over shortages of several routine vaccines. In response, the minister assured that under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the situation is being brought under control. "The vaccine stocks are now stabilising, and we are moving forward with full preparedness to protect children’s health," he said.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain on Tuesday told parliament that necessary initiatives are being taken to recruit some 100,000 health workers in line with the current government’s election manifesto. He said this responding to a starred tabled question placed by treasury bench member elected from Naogaon-4 Ikramul Bari Tipu. The minister said the government has been working relentlessly to ensure adequate manpower to improve the quality of healthcare services and maintain continuity in service delivery across the country. He said on January 22 this year, a total of 2,984 assistant surgeons and 279 dental surgeons were recruited through the 48th BCS, while 98 assistant surgeons (MBBS) and 22 dental surgeons were appointed through the 44th BCS. Earlier, on December 18 last year, 162 assistant surgeons (MBBS doctors) were appointed through the 27th BCS.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain on Tuesday said no unauthorised and substandard clinics will be allowed to operate as part of efforts to improve the country’s healthcare services. “If any clinic fails to maintain minimum standards of medical services, it will be shut down immediately without delay,” he said. He made the remarks while talking to reporters at the Secretariat on the first working day after the Eid holidays. Special inspections and drives against private clinics in the capital will begin from Tuesday itself, he said. Strict directives have been given to ensure quality healthcare services, said the minister, adding that a ‘zero tolerance’ policy will be followed against clinic owners involved in irregularities. The monitoring drive, which begins in the capital, will be expanded gradually across the country, he added.  

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain on Thursday warned that the licence of any government doctor found seeing patients outside during official duty hours will be suspended or cancelled. The minister made the warning at a briefing on current affairs held at the conference room of the Health Ministry, said an official handout. Govt moving to restore discipline in public hospitals: Health Minister Sakhawat Hossain said Rajesh Majumder, a doctor at the 250-bed District Sadar Hospital in Shariatpur, had been summoned to the ministry on Wednesday for seeing patients at a private chamber in the local Modern City Hospital during office hours. He said the doctor will be suspended from his job and a departmental case will be filed following due procedures. The process to suspend his professional registration is also underway. The minister urged other doctors to learn from the incident. He added that action is also being taken against Modern City Hospital in Shariatpur. Drug addicts to be identified, punished through dope tests: Health Minister The health minister said intelligence surveillance is being conducted across the country to ensure that government medicines reach the public and that doctors remain present at their workplaces. He warned that if any government doctor is found absent during office hours in the future, their licence will be suspended and disciplinary action will be taken. The minister also said the government plans to recruit around 100,000 field-level health workers in various posts, including midwives, pharmacists and technologists, to improve the quality of healthcare services. Of them, 80 percent will be women.