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Health sector jobs grossly politicised

Transfers, promotions dictated by pro-AL doctors' body

Mahbuba Zannat
Massive transfers and promotions in the country's health sector have given rise to strong allegations that politicisation of the health sector is in full swing.
It is alleged that only Awami League-affiliated doctors are being given lucrative posts while skilled doctors are being removed from responsible posts or transferred to remote regions because of their
affiliation with other political parties.
Experts and observers say leaders of Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad (SCP)—a pro-AL doctors' wing--is going down the same path of oppression and manipulation followed by the pro-BNP doctors' wing Doctors' Association of Bangladesh (DAB) during the tenure of the last political government.
Leaders of SCP are said to be creating pressure on the government for undue advantages.
Many are also pointing at Health Minister AFM Ruhul Haque, who is the present president of SCR as the person pulling strings in the organisation's favour.
A huge round of transfers and promotions has taken place at hospitals, medical colleges and other medical institutions. More than 800 supporters of the pro-BNP DAB have been transferred randomly. Experts say these changes are not being carried out on the basis of merit or skill.
Doctors with no political affiliations say they are the worst sufferers of the situation as there is nobody to lobby for them or back them.
SCP leaders however denied the allegations.
From DGHS to Upazila Health Complex
Ninety percent of the directors. deputy directors and assistant directors at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) have been transferred since the new government took office.
Shah Monir Hossain, who had been an officer on special duty (OSD) for the last seven years, has been made the director general of the DGHS. Changes have also been rampant in other top posts in the DGHS.
Leaders of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA)
allege that the mass transfers and promotions under pressure from SCP is being carried out to manipulate the upcom-i ng BMA election on Novembers.
When contacted, SCP General Secretary Iqbal Arslan told The Daily Star that such allegations against the SCP are totally false.
"There are some 600 doctors who were made OSDs while they pursued medical courses. Their appointments have been due for several years now. In addition, 762 trainee doctors are also in queue for permanent posts. The recent promotions and transfers are a reflection of this," Arslan said.
BSMMU
It is alleged that in the beginning, right after the government's assumption of power, SCP began to press the administrative high-ups at hospitals to meet their demands. Ultimately, most of those high-ups were forced out
"politically" through transfers.
SCP Secretary Jakaria Swapan has been made proctor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).
NICVD
The chiefs of two of the seven units of the surgery department at the National Institute of Cardio Vascular Diseases (NICVD) have been transferred since the AL government came to power.
As a result, the capacity of the department has gone down badly. Hie wait for a surgery date at this very urgent department now goes past three months.
Prof NA Kamrul Ahsan, head of the surgery department, has been made OSD and attached to Chittagong Medical College and Hospital where there is no cardiac surgery unit. Ahsan is the vice president of National Democratic Forum, a pro-Jamaat doctors' association. Khwaja Nasiruddin Mahmud, president of SCP's NICVD unit and an associate professor at the hospital, has been made in-charge of the department, overtaking two doctors senior to him.
The central leader of SCP, Kajal, a diploma holder in cardiology, has been posted as resident physician (RP) at the hospital although all past RPs at the hospital had FCPS and MD degrees, sources said.
Dr Kamrul Hasan, an office secretary of central SCP and a medical officer at the hospital, has been promoted to the post of resident surgeon of NICVD. He was also made an assistant professor overtaking many others on the gradation list.
DMCH
From the posts in the outdoor department to the posts of professors. 80 percent of the manpower structure at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) has been changed within the last four months.
A large number of resident
surgeons, registrars and assistant surgeons have been promoted but there have been no new appointments to the posts vacated because of the promotions.
Experts allege that quality has been compromised as doctors who have completed only part one of the FCPS qualification have been promoted to the post of registrar although guidelines dearly indicate that those appointed to the post should have a postgraduate degree.
Holy Family Red Crescent Hospital
AL lawmaker Dr SM Akbar Ali Khan was recently appointed the new chairman of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society.
SCP leader Associate Prof Moniruzzaman Bhuiya has been made acting principal of the Holy Family Medical College, overtaking at least 20 other senior teachers.
Sources allege that this has all been because of his "close
association" with Dr Modassir Ali, health adviser of the prime minister.
Other public hospitals
The situation is said to be the same at Suhrawardy Hospital, Khaleda Zia Medical College, Mitford Hospital, National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (Nitor) and Cancer Hospital as doctors with political affiliations are getting promotions irrespective of their qualification or experiences.
Prof Muzaffer Ahmad, former chairperson of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Trustee Board, said if such bad prac tices are to continue, the country's health services system will collapse.
He also said the health minister should resign from the post of SCP president as he should be serving the nation and not party interests alone.