More attention to patients

We feel proud that Prime Minister (PM) of Bhutan Dr Lotay Tshering was a student of Mymensingh Medical College (MMC). He visited the college last Sunday on Pahela Baishakh. While addressing at a student gathering at his alma mater, he said, "We are physicians. Our time is spent seeing patients. Maybe, they come to us once in a lifetime. So while seeing a patient, we need to be more attentive."

What PM of Bhutan said is relevant to Bangladesh. We sometimes see that doctors do not pay full attention to patients. They see patients hastily.

Since doctors prescribe medicine based on their best assumption about the condition of the patient/visitor, they have to be very sincere and alert. Also they should spend enough time to listen to patients. Physicians in Bangladesh see patients for merely 48 seconds on an average, according to a 2017 global study that was published online British medical journal the BMJ Open.

Doctors need to spend time in counselling their patients. Counselling can cure half the disease. The PM of Bhutan, during a tete-a-tete with his friends in MMC, informed he still performs surgery on patients free of cost two days a week. He can be a source of inspiration for many physicians in Bangladesh.

In the past, the PM of Bhutan stayed in Bangladesh for ten years. He understands issues Bangladesh is facing. Hope there will be better bilateral relations in trade, commerce and culture between Bangladesh and Bhutan in the coming years.

Alamgir Hossain

Kaigari, Bogra