It is said that the tide of improvement and modernization is flowing in the medical sector of the country. As a country with a large population, the prevalence of patients and diseases is also high. Government and private hospitals and clinics are overcrowded with patients every day. Even in the private chambers of doctors, getting serials has become as difficult as a golden deer. Drug stores are also crowded to buy medicines, but not only to buy medicine! Sensational information has emerged from the survey of the government itself.
Sensational information has emerged from the survey of the government itself. The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) survey report released on December 14 shows the treatment of people in the country by 21 methods. That is, according to the results of the latest survey of BBS, even though there is overcrowding of patients in public and private hospitals and clinics, the people of the country still take treatment at the highest rate (53.54 percent) from the pharmacy!
When asked to inquire about this source, a salesperson of a pharmacy in the Basila area of the capital requested not to reveal his name or the name of the pharmacy and told the Khaborer Kagoj that he had learned to work in different pharmacies since childhood. He doesn't have a diploma. However, as there are several slums in the surrounding area, many people come every day to take medicine for various diseases. Hearing the symptoms of some diseases, he gives medicine, and some medicine is given by his boss.
Golenur Begum, a domestic worker from Hajaribagh in the capital who came to another pharmacy, said, "My younger son has a stomach ailment and fever. That's why I came to this shop. I told the salesman about the problem. He gave me three medicines. Let's see what happens with that medicine!"
When asked why she did not go to the hospital, Golenur said, "The government hospital is far away from home. It takes time to go by bus; I can't walk there. And if you go by rickshaw, it will take Tk 100. I cannot spend so much money. You don't need to pay any extra money here; just come and get the medicine."
President of the Bangladesh Public Health Association and former Director General of the Health Department, Professor Dr. Shah Monir Hossain, told Khaborer Kagoj, "This survey is proof that we have not yet been able to ensure quality medical services for the low-income people of the country." On the other hand, people who are generally aware, educated, and financially well-off don't go to pharmacies or quacks anymore. They go to institutionalized medical centers or accredited doctors. As a result, those who live below the poverty line, those who are deprived of educational opportunities and those who suffer from socio-economic constraints are more likely to seek informal or unrecognized treatment."
Those who live below the poverty line, those who are deprived of educational opportunities, and those who suffer from socio-economic constraints are more likely to seek informal or unrecognized treatment.
When asked what his work priorities would be on the day of assuming office, Dr. Samant Lal Sen, the Minister of Health and Family Welfare told the Khaborer kagoj, "More work needs to be done to reach the people of low-income or less privileged areas with quality health care. Because low-income people take advantage of the treatment that is easily available at home to avoid doctor's fees, hospital service charges, and travel to the hospital."
Dr. Abu Jamil Faisal, another public health expert told the Khaborer Kagoj that this survey shows evidence that people take treatment that is easily available at their fingertips. On the other hand, the crowd seen in public and private hospitals shows that the relatives of the patients are more crowded than the patients.
The expert said that the rate of pharmacy and unapproved doctors that have come up in the BBS survey is a reality. People first go to the pharmacy near their house and ask for medicine for diseases like common fever, cold, stomach ache, diarrhea, gastric, and so on. While people benefit from it immediately, there are also dangers. In this case, too, the government should make these primary sources of treatment efficient by training them in various ways. It will reduce pressure on formal medical institutions and make people safer.
According to BBS survey data, among other categories, go to a private hospital or clinic (9.13 percent), go to a recognized doctor's chamber (9.09 percent), go to an upazila government hospital (2.94 percent), go to a government district, and go to a sadar hospital. 2.13 percent, only 1.26 percent go to private medical colleges and specialized hospitals, only 0.12 percent go to government medical colleges and specialized hospitals, 0 to 18 percent receive treatment from other small government hospitals, zero and 47 percent of people took treatment from government health workers, zero and 21 percent from government satellite clinics, 1 and 16 percent from community clinics, and zero and 48 percent from union health and family welfare centers, 0.28 percent received treatment from maternal and child care centers, 0.13 percent received treatment through health workers of various NGOs, 0.46 percent from NGO clinics, 1.56 percent from homeopathic doctors, 0.48 percent from Ayurvedic practitioner, 0.7 percent from Muslim and Hindu spiritual guide and snake charmers, 1.22 percent from a family member or self-treatment and 0.37 percent take from other methods of treatment.
Former Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy at Dhaka University. ABM Farooq told Khaborer Kagoj that although the government has taken many initiatives to get health care to the doorstep of people, it is less than what is needed. People don't want to go to the hospital right away unless they are very sick. Many consider hospitals and clinics to be a hassle. This fear should be removed from people's minds. On the other hand, pharmacies should be under more surveillance. The scope of the model pharmacy should be increased. More work needs to be done on how to standardize unregistered pharmacies. Common people can get safe medical services to some extent by doing this.
