Shape up or ship out, PM to doctors

Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina has reiterated that government physicians would have to work at the district and upazila levels or quit their jobs, report agencies. "You'll (doctors) have to stay in your workplaces if you don't want to lose your jobs. But if you don't, we have the alternative way." The Prime Minister warned the doctors while speaking at a function for distributing ambulances for Upazila and district hospitals and cars for civil surgeons at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city Tuesday. Sheikh Hasina directed civil surgeons to strictly monitor the health services at rural areas and ensure attendance of physicians at their respective workplaces at district, upazila and union levels. The Prime Minister distributed 57 cars among civil surgeons and 159 ambulances for the district and upazila-level hospitals as part of government endeavours to reach health services to the doorsteps of people in line with its election manifesto. Reminding the sacred responsibilities of physicians, she told them to discharge their duties with utmost sincerity and devotion to relieve the pains and sufferings of patients. "It would be your solemn responsibilities to provide service to the ailing people as you have become doctors with the tax payer's money," she added. She said her government has given priority to the development of education and social sectors aimed at making the health service more effective and sustainable. It has also taken steps to ensure water and sanitation facilities up to rural levels, she added. The Prime Minister said her government has taken massive programmes with allocation of Tk 4.85 billion to make the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) as the centre of excellence. Laying emphasis on conducting research on medical science, she requested all concerned to expedite research activities in the university for the development of medical science in Bangladesh. Health Minister Prof Dr AFM Ruhal Haque, Prime Minister's Health Affairs Adviser Prof Dr Syed Mudasser Ali, State Minister for Health Dr Captain (retd) Mujibur Rahman Fakir, Civil Surgeon of Dhaka Dr Md Jasim Uddin Khan and DG Health Prof Khondakar Md Shefayetullah also spoke on the occasion with additional secretary to Health Ministry AKM Amir Hossain in the chair.