Staff Correspondent
Law Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul has called upon physicians to refrain from prescribing unnecessary medical tests to patients. He also cautioned doctors against becoming “middlemen” in the healthcare system.
The remarks came during his speech at an event organized by the Bangladesh Private Hospital, Clinic and Diagnostic Owners Association (BPHCDOA) on Saturday (August 16). Dr. Nazrul emphasized, “No one wants to seek treatment in India or Thailand. Bangladesh has the capacity to provide proper medical care.”
The adviser raised concerns about doctors being pressured to prescribe medicines from specific pharmaceutical companies, asking, “In which country do drug representatives get dedicated time with physicians? Are you becoming sales agents?” He also criticized low nurse salaries, stating, “How can a nurse earning 12,000 taka provide quality care?” Dr. Nazrul urged hospital owners to prioritize service over profits, sharing an anecdote about an assistant subjected to 14 unnecessary tests in Dhaka compared to simpler treatment elsewhere.
Highlighting the financial burden on poor patients, Dr. Nazrul asserted, “Please stop these abuses. Bangladeshi people are very poor.” He stressed that while exploiting wealthy patients might be tolerated, the current system disproportionately harms the underprivileged. The adviser’s comments spotlight ongoing challenges in Bangladesh’s healthcare sector, where unnecessary diagnostics and pharmaceutical influences remain contentious issues.