Dhaka, Jan 21 – Officials of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) found 40 per cent doctors absent while conducting drives in 10 government hospitals in eight districts simultaneously on Monday. They also found that 62 per cent doctors in Upazila hospitals were absent. The ACC director general, Munir Chowdhury, came up with the findings while talking to reporters at the ACC headquarters in Segunbagicha in the city. “Our teams conducted drives from 9am to 2pm in 10 public hospitals.
They found 93 doctors out of 230 absent from their places of work in the city’s different public hospitals. The percentage of absentees was 40,” he said.
Chowdhury, who is also chief coordinator of the Anti-corruption Drive Unit, said the ACC teams conducted drives in 10 public hospitals across the country, including the capital city of Dhaka.
“Our teams also conducted drives in eight public hospitals in seven districts outside the capital.
They found that 81 doctors out of 131 were absent during the drives. The percentage of absentees was 62,” he added.
The ACC teams conducted the drives in the city’s Phulbaria Karmachari Kalyan Hospital, Ma O Shishu Sadan in Nazirabazar, Pirgacha Health Complex in Rangpur, Godagari Upazila Helath Complex in Rajshahi, Dinajpur Sadar Hospital, Delduar Upazila Health Complex in Tangail, Muktagacha Health Complex in Mymensingh, Kumarkhali Upazila Health Complex in Kushtia,
Pabna Sadar Hospital and the Atgharia Upazila Health Complex.
Besides, the ACC officials caught red-handed a stretcher worker, Abu Musa Bhuiyan, while he was taking bribe at Mugda General Hospital in Dhaka.
Musa has been suspended from his job.
“We will take a strong legal initiative against any kind of irregularities. We will send letters to those doctors who were absent during the ACC drives,” Munir Chowdhury said in reply to a query.
Moral degradation has taken a serious turn in the health sector, the ACC official said, adding that though they did not arrest anyone, the next time there would be no excuse.
“We will detain persons who will be found absent from their places of work during office hours.
They will lose their jobs too,” Chowdhury warned. He further said their drives would continue. –Staff Reporter
