Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain has ordered immediate action against a healthcare worker and directed that a patient be refunded after a surprise inspection at Gobindaganj Upazila Health Complex in Gaibandha exposed irregularities in patient service.
The minister made the unannounced visit at around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday (August 2), catching hospital authorities off guard. At the time of the inspection, Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Masudur Rahman Akand was on leave.
During the visit, Shamsunnahar, a woman who had been bitten by a dog, informed the minister that despite the hospital having anti-rabies vaccines in stock, she had been instructed to purchase the vaccine from a private pharmacy. She said she spent Tk 1,030 before receiving treatment.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the incident, the minister immediately contacted Dr. Masudur Rahman Akand and instructed him to take departmental action against Sub-Assistant Community Medical Officer (SACMO) Hedayetul Islam Chowdhury, who was allegedly responsible for directing the patient to buy the vaccine from outside the hospital.
The Health Minister also ordered the hospital authorities to refund the patient’s Tk 1,030 without delay and directed that a warning letter be issued to the physician responsible for the emergency department.
The surprise inspection has drawn attention across the district and reinforced the government’s commitment to strengthening accountability, transparency, and quality healthcare services in public hospitals.
FP/R
