Health and Family Welfare Adviser Nurjahan Begum today underscored the need for ensuring proper treatment for patients at union-upazila level to reduce pressure on district level hospitals in the country.

“If it can be identified which patient should actually be sent or referred to district level big hospitals from union-upazila level, then the flow of patients can be reduced at big hospitals. It is called referral system,” she said.

The adviser was talking to the journalists after visiting the Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) here.

Mentioning that every day, around 1200-1500 patients come to the Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH), she said if referral system is followed, patients who actually need treatment from big hospitals, will be able to receive treatment there smoothly.    
 
Some small community clinics have been built at union level but there is lack of doctors or other necessary things, she said, adding, “That is why, full health care services are not available there.”

She said health care service is a joint work as it needs doctors, nurses, technicians and equipment.

The health adviser said the government has the responsibility to resolve these hospital related problems.

She said, “The third and fourth class outsourcing workers at CMCH have not been paid for the last three to four months. Due to several problems, their salary issue has not yet been approved. If it is approved, then the government will re-allocate salary and allowances for them.”

About the news of death due to wrong treatment, she urged journalists to write news with utmost sincerity to expose the actual responsible person in such incident.   

Later, she exchanged views with the department heads of CMCH. At that time, CMCH Director Brigadier General Mohammed Taslim Uddin and other officials were present.

The health adviser also visited the Chittagong General Hospital and Chittagong Eye Hospital.