SMBCH to charge fees for visitors of patients

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BARISAL, July 28 (UNB): Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) will charge fees for the attendants and visitors of the patients from the next month (August).
The decision was taken at a meeting at the SBMC teachers' auditorium Wednesday with Divisional Commissioner of Barisal M Harun Chowdhury in the chair, said SBMCH director M Moniruzzaman.
As per the decision, the hospital authority will allow only one attendant per patient, against a deposit of Tk 60 for obtaining an attendant's card.
Of the deposit, Tk 10 will be deducted as contribution to patients' welfare fund while the remaining Tk 50 to be refunded at the time of discharging the patients from the hospital.
Besides, a nominal fee will be charged from the visitors, who will be allowed to see the patients between 4pm and 6pm during the summer and from 3pm-5pm during the winter. Round-the-clock security guards will also be deployed at the hospital gates to strictly enforce the visiting hours.
The meeting also decided to develop the garbage management and sanitation systems of the hospital with the help of non-government organisations (NGOs).
According to another decision, it will be mandatory for physicians, nurses, officials and employees of the hospital to wear uniforms and badges with nameplates during the duty hours.
Vigilance teams will work to strictly monitor any trespass or unauthorised entry and will evict unauthorised shops and establishments from the SBMC campus.
SBMCH director Moniruzzaman informed that probe bodies would be formed to inquire into allegations of corruption as well as misappropriation of medicines, foods, machinery and other hospital items.