The proposed health care law-2018 has triggered much indignation among doctors. They claim that the draft is unethical since it places all staff of a hospital plus doctors under one category.
If this law is passed, neither patients nor doctors will benefit. They fear that instead of giving security to doctors, it may be used against them.
The proposed law was sent to cabinet this June and after certain additions and exclusions, the draft was sent back to the health ministry.
Doctors allege that several clauses of the proposed health care law are misleading and incomplete. They also feel that the ambiguities may create complications later.
President of the Foundation for Doctors’ Safety and Rights, Dr Abdun Nur Tushar, said: “The proposed law states that the head of private hospital or owner will be held responsible for any breach of medical code but it does not specify as to who will be held responsible if rules are broken at a public hospital.”
The law does not state whether lab tests should have signatures of doctors; this will result in the deception of patients, he lamented.
Secretary-general of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA), Dr Ihteshamul Huq, observed: “Some of the clauses are not realistic and when the ministry calls the US we will highlight them.”
Dr Iqbal Arslan, adds: “The draft does not uphold the respect of the teachers.”
Additional secretary of the Health ministry, Md Sirajul Islam said: “We did not know the doctors are disgruntled; we discussed the matter with everyone and sent a draft to the cabinet.”
“We will sit on the matter on Nov 26 next with all stakeholders and have asked the doctors to come. After discussion, we will add issues that bring benefit to all sides'', he said.