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Experts against privatisation of community, union clinics

Staff Correspondent
A group of health experts yesterday opposed the government's decision to lease around 516 community and union clinics to different private healthcare organisations, service delivery contractors and non government organisations.
If the public healthcare centres go to the private sector, it would hinder poor people's access to the healthcare services in the country, they said at a press conference titled 'Leasing the public health services: Effect on public health' at the National Press Club in the city.
If the resources of crores of taka of public health sector go to the hands of different groups in the name of privatisation, it would ultimately commercialise the healthcare services, they added.
Organised under the banner of 'Health Professional Society for the sake of the citizens,' the speakers said it would also deprive those who donated five decimal of land to establish community clinics in order to get free primary heal thcare services.
New act should be formulated to ensure accountability and control over private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres, experts said.
While presenting the keynote paper, Prof Rashid E Mahbub said leasing the public health system should be stopped immediately.
"At the same time, a national and local committee should be formed in collaboration with the government and people to run an autonomous public health system," he said, adding that corruption of different donor agencies in health sector should be investigated and their suggestions that go against public interest should be rejected.
The main problem in public health sector is mismanagement which should be stopped immediately and it is not wise to blame doctors for the present situation of the total healthcare system and also to privatise it, said Prof Nazmun Nahar, child specialist of Birdem Hospital, adding that the government in any way cannot avoid the responsibility of poor
people's right to get healthcare services.
The experts demanded the government to ensure healthcare services at a minimum cost and availability of the equipment in the public hospitals, to increase budget allocation and to root out corruption at every level.
From 1998 to 2001, some 11,500-community clinics were established with a view to providing primary healthcare and family planning services to the villagers. For 6,000 people, there is only one community clinic that remains inoperative since the BNP-led four-party alliance regime.
Health and family welfare ministry invited a tender on April 21 to lease 378 community clinics and 138 union clinics at 15 upazilas of Bhola, Cox's Bazar, Sherpur, Shatkhira, Lalmonirhat and Sunamganj districts.
Prof Ruhul Haque, Dr Sharfuddin Ahmed of BSMMU, Dr Abdul Matin, Dr Moshtak Hossain and Dr Arman Khan also took part in conference.