Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain Bokul on Saturday made a surprise visit to Kaliganj Upazila Health Complex where he found several irregularities, including the absence of doctors and officials, discrepancies in leave approvals, and shortcomings in hospital services.
The minister arrived at the hospital unexpectedly around 10:00 am and immediately entered the facility. He then collected the doctors’ attendance register and reviewed it in the conference room. During the inspection, four doctors were found absent, and none had submitted any leave applications. After learning about the minister’s sudden visit, several doctors arrived at the hospital around 10:30 am. When questioned about their late arrival, they cited various reasons and later apologized to the minister.
The minister also visited the male and female wards and spoke with admitted patients about the medical services they were receiving. He expressed dissatisfaction after noticing that the ward washrooms lacked handwash or soap. When asked why such basic facilities were not provided despite budget allocations, hospital authorities admitted their mistake.
He talked with patients in the outpatient department, who raised several complaints about healthcare services. The minister recorded the complaints and listened to the demands of hospital employees, noting them down as well.
During the inspection, he visited the hospital pharmacy and documented the various problems and complaints, assuring that necessary steps would be taken to address them.
Speaking to journalists, the minister said government hospitals across the country would no longer receive prior notice before inspections. “From now on, inspections will be carried out without prior notice. If any irregularities are found, immediate departmental action will be taken,” he said.
He warned that no excuses would be accepted from hospital staff and that they must report to work on time. Doctors would no longer be allowed to live in Dhaka while holding positions in rural hospitals; instead, they must stay near their workplaces to carry out their duties properly.
