Health Minister Warns of Action After Finding Stacks of Medicine, Irregularities at Bagerhat Hospitals

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain made surprise visits to three hospitals in Bagerhat, Bangladesh, today. He discovered severe irregularities, including improperly stored medicines and attendance discrepancies, and warned of tough action upon his return to Dhaka. At the Morrelganj Upazila Health Complex, the minister and his team found abandoned rooms filled with government medicines, saline, needles, syringes, and other medical supplies. Piles of saline and medicines were even found inside a toilet, with the local health and family planning officer unable to provide a satisfactory explanation. The minister also reviewed the biometric attendance register and noted discrepancies in doctors' arrival and departure times. He then visited the health officer's official residence on the hospital premises and found evidence of a private clinic being run nearby, exacerbating the crisis at the government hospital. The minister later visited the clinic but found no doctors present, strongly reprimanding the officer. During his visit, the minister contacted Bagerhat Civil Surgeon Dr Mahbubul Alam by phone. The civil surgeon claimed to be on leave, but when questioned about authorization, stated he had received verbal leave from the divisional health director. However, a call to Khulna Divisional Health Director Dr Sheikh Md Mosharraf Hossain revealed he had no knowledge of the civil surgeon's leave. "I saw everything here and noted it down. There are various irregularities and deviations," the minister told reporters. "Let me return to Dhaka. I have people above me who I have to report to. I will discuss the matter with them and do whatever is necessary." The minister later visited Sarankhola Upazila Health Complex, where he spoke to patients and reprimanded a senior nurse for misbehavior. At Bagerhat 250-bed Hospital, he inspected wards, the kitchen, toilets, and the storehouse, assuring that doctors would be posted quickly to address staff shortages.

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I saw everything here and noted it down. There are various irregularities and deviations. Let me return to Dhaka. I have people above me who I have to report to. I will discuss the matter with them and do whatever is necessary.