Unnecessary and wrong tests assigned to the patients are bringing in lots of sufferings to the patients in the country. Even, their conditions become worsen due to this faulty malpractice.
For instance, Sanzida Yasmin (48) of Rajshahi has been suffering from stomach ache for a few months. When she visited to a doctor in the district, he suggested her to do an ultra-sonogram. After completing the test in a private diagnostic center, she went to the doctor to show the report and the doctor told her that she had cervical tumor. He also told her to make an operation quickly to solve the problem.
Sanzida Yasmin said, “My family got tensed after hearing the feedback of the doctor. My husband told me visit another doctor in Dhaka. He took me to the capital and I did the ultra-sonogram once again. Upon showing the report of test this time, the doctor told me that I had no tumor. I wonder what would happen if I do the operation according to the suggestion of previous doctor.”
Many a complaints are against the doctors and health workers regarding suggesting illogical tests, giving faulty reports, not explaining the reasons for tests, misconducting with the patients etc. They physicians are also concerned over the matter. They stressed on the matters like checking the patients by giving necessary time, listening attentively to the patients’ problems, showing good behaviors and not giving unnecessary tests. However, even after that the patients’ have been suffering from mismanagement and negligence for many years.
Let’s look at another example. Ferdousi Begum (48) has been suffering from back ache for many days. When the condition is severe, she came to Dhaka from her home town to visit the doctor. After hearing the problems, the doctors suggested her to do some tests including X-ray. When she went to do the tests, from the counter, she was informed that she was also given to do X-ray of knee. Hence, she went to the doctor again and asked why he suggested her to do Knee-X-ray when she has been suffering from back ache. Then the doctor became angry and said if she don’t like his treatment, then go to another doctor.
Public health expert and chairman of Health and Hope Hospital, Dr. Lelin Chowdhury, told Bangladesh Pratidin, "A doctor must explain the medicine and tests he prescribes for the patient. If he doesn’t explain, then he did not protect the patient's rights. According to the Geneva Declaration of 1948, doctors and patients have certain rights. When a patient sits next to a doctor as a candidate for treatment, an unwritten contract is signed between them. That is, they will respect each other and explain the problem to each other in detail. They will behave cordially and humanely. If the doctor doesn’t have that attitude towards the patient, he violates the rights of the patient. The patient will also maintain his responsibility towards the doctor.”
Not only in government hospitals, but also in private hospitals where many spend money for better treatment, patients complain that they are not properly informed about their treatment, medicines or operations. Even the doctors in the chamber are alleged to give medical certificates without listening to the patients properly. The cost of pouring tests increases the cost of treatment. Many doctors ask for tests from specific diagnostic centers. Or ask for the test from the clinic where he sees the patient. These tests are a major source of income for diagnostic centers and private clinics-hospitals. Although the tests trade has been discussed and criticized, there has been no policy so far. Private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centers charge arbitrary prices from patients as there is no set standard for the maximum-minimum price of any test.
Professor of Health Economics Institute of University of Dhaka, Syed Abdul Hamid said, "There is a crisis of confidence in the health system of the country. The cost of treatment is high here, and patients have to suffer while taking treatment. Treatment facilities are all Dhaka centric. There are questions about the quality of diagnostics in the country. Doctors don’t give enough time to patients. There are questions about the mismanagement of government hospitals, and broker circles, quality of service associated with them. There are quality doctors in the country. But as they have to check up huge number of patients, they don’t give proper attention to them. Running to doctors, diagnostic centers increases the cost of the patient. There are allegations against doctors of overwriting medicines and tests.”
He also said, 'The price and quality of services in private hospitals should be determined and maintained. The price of private hospitals should be fixed according to their category so that the patients can avail the services according to their capacity. Diagnostics should also be priced to ensure quality. Prescription audit should be introduced. Diagnostic services should be strengthened in government hospitals and referral system should be introduced in treatment.”
Shamima Akhtar is an employee of a private organization. His 16-year-old son Yasin had been suffering from headaches for several days and occasionally vomits. One day he fainted after vomiting and they took him to Dhaka Medical College Hospitala and showed him to the doctor. Doctors said that he is suffering from brain tumor and needs to be operated quickly. Shamima had to stay with her son on the floor as there was no bed after the operation.
She said, "Several medicines were given the night after the operation. The boy was becoming very restless after taking a medicine. Seeing this condition of his son, she woke up the doctor who was on emergency duty at night. But, he got angry. When I called the nurse, they misbehaved with my husband and said if I disturb him again and again, I will call Ansar and throw him out. My son died in the early hours of that day.”
The rush to go abroad for treatment has increased again. The rush of people for medical visa is increasing in various embassies including India, Thailand and Singapore. Mismanagement, crisis, technical limitations are ruling the government hospitals in the country. There is a crisis of confidence in the private sector, along with the trap of fraud. Middle class and even lower middle class people are running abroad in the hope of better service.
It is known that thousands of crores of Taka are going out of the country every year for better treatment. Due to the Covid-19 infection, there were various restrictions on foreign travel. As everything is back to normal, the rush to get medical visa has increased in the visa centers. The influx of patients going to India, Thailand, and Singapore is on the rise.
Dr Lelin Chowdhury also said, 'There are many reasons for peoples’ tendency of taking treatment abroad. One of these is medical tourism. Patients think that better treatment can be obtained by going to distant places. From New York to London, from Bangladesh to Kolkata, from Kolkata to Chennai, they search the better treatment. Among a section of doctors in our country, a tendency to give orders to the patient instead of responsible behavior towards them is visible. When a person is ill and goes for treatment, it will not be acceptable to him. A section of doctors don’t explain the whole thing to the patient. Many times we see that many doctors do not treat their patients properly. They show negligence to the patients. As a result, lack of confidence is created in the patients.”
@The report was published in Bengali on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on May 6 and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque
