Politicisation of health system
The politicisation of health system that started in early 1990 is likely to bring disaster in the long run unless it is stopped right now. The posting, transfer, recruitment and even enrolment into different courses at post-graduate level have been politicised without considering merit. The poor and mid-income patients will suffer most while rich will go abroad to get treatment. The politicisation of bureaucracy is a most unwelcome development. The Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) was established to strengthen and improvise the medical profession. But during the present regime, doctors blessed by the ruling party are in control of BMA while during the previous regime doctors backed by the main opposition party controlled the BMA. Sources in the health ministry said BMA leaders now play a major role in posting, transfer, recruitment and even enrolment into different courses at post-graduate level. The DMCH authorities and the health ministry have no pragmatic initiative to arrange heart treatment in medical colleges across the country.
Professors at DMCH hardly turn up at the college in time. The BMA and health ministry should devise a plan under which professors must attend at least 20 per cent of the total outdoor patients.