Citizens' participation a must for better health facilities
They said as the public hospitals lack accountability, structural changes are needed to ensure citizen's participation.
The workshop titled ' Healthy citizenship: Claiming the right to health' was organised jointly by Steps Towards Development and Bangladesh Institute of Develop-ment Studies at Cirdap auditorium in the city.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The speakers said inactive health advisory committee of the people's representatives at local level could not ensure people's health rights.
The health committees are inactive at the union and upazila levels depriving the poor people of their right to healthcare facilities, they added.
They stressed the need for accountability, mass awareness and co-ordination among the governmental and non-governmental organisations for this purpose.
"We cannot expect accountability in the prevailing health system," said Dr Zafrullah, project co-ordinator of Gana Swasthya Kendra.
The speakers said devolution of power at local level, capacity building for participation and reducing gap between community expectations and government allocation are also essential for structural change.
They said inclusion of 'voiceless' people treating them as equal citizens, a methodical change in citizen's participation could be ensured.
A research paper presented at the workshop by BIDS Senior Research Fellow Simin Mahmud said poor people have to pay for apparently free and low quality health service.
The paper also revealed dilapidated physical infrastructure of different healthcare centres apart from poor personnel, equipment, medical supply and resources.
Besides, irregular attendance of service providers as well as their discriminating behaviour in treating poor service users also add sufferings to them.
The executive director of Steps Towards Development moderated the workshop which was addressed by Co-ordinator of Nijera Kori Khushi Kabir, Convenor of Naripakkha Mahin Sultana, Chairman of Madhupur Thana Health Watch Committee Prof Joinal Abedin, and Co-ordinator of Dhaka Community Hospital Trustee Board Prof Mahmudur Rahman.