Ministry refutes allegation of anomalies

FE Team | Published: August 30, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

FE Report
The ministry of health refuted Friday allegation of irregularities in making several hundred newly appointed doctors officers on special duty (OSDs), saying it was done following proper rules.
In a statement issued by the ministry it was explained: "The doctors have been made OSDs following specific rules. So no violation has occurred in the process."
A misunderstanding has been created without any proper basis on the posting of the newly appointed doctors at upazila level and making some of them OSDs, it added.
The ministry issued the clarification following confusion arisen relating to the OSD process of 1,647 doctors from 6,089 newly appointed doctors of 33rd BCS examination.
The directorate general of health services can show 10 per cent of the total posts of doctors as OSD. At present there are 25,000 posts for the doctors. But it has shown 1,647 doctors as OSDs who will not work in the directorate; rather their workplaces will be upazilas or unions, the statement said.
These 6,089 doctors, including the OSDs, are bound to provide healthcare services to people staying in their present workplaces for the next two years.
The OSD doctors will also provide healthcare services staying in any upazila or union.
The statement claimed the ministry has taken initiative to create new posts for doctors at upzila level. The fewer number of posts at upazila level does not imply that the number of doctors in the country is excess.
According to the recommednation of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Bangladesh needs 65,000 doctors while there are only 22,000 doctors in the country now. On the other hand, the number of public hospitals, clinics and health centres has been increasing. The situation is being tackled with the old doctors, nurses and paramedics. Besides, the number of beds is being raised from 31 to 50 in every upazila. For these reasons the new doctors have to provide services staying in rural areas.
The statement also said a seven-member committee has been formed with additional health secretary Aiyubur Rahman as its head to monitor whether these new doctors are serving people regularly or not.