For many years, while Bangladesh's health sector has developed on one hand, it has been sinking deeper into various crises on the other.
A recent survey conducted by BBS, published in newspapers, revealed that one out of every three people in the country has been a victim of neglect, improper care, or malpractice in either government or private hospitals.
It is seen that public dissatisfaction with healthcare is steadily increasing. The survey also shows that negligence in healthcare is more prevalent in urban areas compared to rural ones.
Due to overcrowding in city hospitals, it has become difficult to get proper service. Most patients are unaware of where to file complaints, resulting in an increase in mismanagement and irregularities.
The survey also highlighted the irresponsibility of doctors and the issue of excessive costs under the guise of necessary tests.
Although many people receive treatment in government hospitals, upazila health complexes, district hospitals, and government medical colleges, the poor quality of government services is leading to a growing reliance on private hospitals and clinics.
However, the cost of treatment in these private hospitals and clinics is out of reach for the general public, creating a huge disparity in healthcare, according to many. As a result, many people from Bangladesh are forced to seek treatment abroad.
People give the highest priority to saving their lives or gaining recovery, and because of this, the tendency to go abroad for treatment of serious diseases such as heart disease, kidney disease, and cancer is increasing day by day.
This reflects the lack of public trust in the country’s healthcare system. Although there is no shortage of skilled doctors and technology in the country to treat such diseases, due to a lack of proper planning, transparency, and efficient management, the healthcare system is unable to meet the demands of the people.
On one hand, treatment costs are rising in the country, while on the other, the cost of medicines is steadily going out of reach for many.
Many people have expressed in surveys that doctors should prescribe generic drug names instead of branded ones, but this is not being implemented effectively. The excessive use of antibiotics without necessity, failure to regulate medicine prices, and the monopoly of pharmaceutical companies are creating an unbearable situation for regular patients, according to the survey.
Experts have stated that unless at least 5% of the country’s GDP is allocated to the health sector, it will not be possible to overcome this crisis.
If advanced technology is used, medical management is modernized, and healthcare services are expanded to remote areas, the public’s suffering will be greatly reduced. To build a corruption-free healthcare system, regular monitoring in both government and private hospitals should be strengthened.
There should be strict penalties for doctors' negligence, and special supervision is needed to ensure patients receive proper healthcare. Additionally, it is also urgent to take necessary measures to implement healthcare as a mandatory constitutional right for the people.
The survey revealed that 91% of people demand that the government be legally obligated to ensure primary healthcare for all citizens. If this demand is fulfilled, there could be a revolutionary change in the healthcare sector.
This crisis in the healthcare system is also having a significant impact on the health and overall economy of the country’s people. Due to a lack of healthcare services, the productivity of the general population is declining, leading to reduced productivity.
In the long term, this will negatively impact the national economy, as the population afflicted with diseases will be forced to spend vast amounts of money on treatment. This reduces opportunities for savings and investment.
Therefore, the development of the healthcare system is not only a humanitarian need but also one of the key prerequisites for economic development.