Dhaka, Apr 29 (UNB) – President Abdul Hamid on Monday urged specialist physicians to serve patients more sincerely and take an initiative to reduce their consultation fees as these are beyond common people’s capacity.
“You (doctors) are engaged in a profession which is highly respectable as well as important. I’ll request you to be more sincere while serving patients. Specialist physicians’ consultation fees often go beyond the capacity of common people. So, you have to take an initiative to reduce the treatment cost,” the President said.
He was addressing as the chief guest the Seventh Biennial Conference of Bangladesh Community Ophthalmology Society at Radisson Blue Dhaka Water Garden hotel.
Mentioning that new technologies are entering the medical science every day, Abdul Hamid urged the physicians to be acquainted with the latest technologies and treatment techniques.
He also said physicians should remain careful so that patients are not deprived of necessary services in the name of unnecessary medical tests.
“The contributions of general people towards your today’s position are not negligible as your expense of medical education came from people’s tax money. So, I think it’s your moral responsibility and duty to provide medical care to them,” the President said.
Describing medical service as people’s basic need, he said, “The government is making every effort to meet this demand. All necessary steps have been taken to ensure healthcare services at the grassroots level by creating physical infrastructure, appointing doctors and nurses and collecting advanced equipment.”
“But, it’s a matter of regret that doctors and nurses start lobbying for transfer if they’re posted outside the district headquarters, even outside Dhaka or divisional city which deprives people of upazila and union level of getting the desired medical services,” the President said.
Putting emphasis on strict monitoring by the administration, he said it must be ensured that doctors provide services from their designated places with sincerity and they should ensure that people do not face harassment while getting services.
Abdul Hamid said different organisations of physicians could play an effective role in this regard.
Stressing the need for creating awareness about eye diseases, the President said if awareness could be raised among people about primary eye care and prevention, it will be possible to reduce many eye diseases.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque and former President of All India Ophthalmological Society Dr Debashish Bhattacharya spoke at the programme while President of Ophthalmological Society of Bangladesh (OSB) Dr Prof Md Sharfuddin Ahmed presided over the programme.
Prominent ophthalmologist Professor Dr Deen Mohammad Noorul Huq delivered the welcome speech and OSB Secretary General Dr Inmur Rahman Choudhury was also present.
Six physicians were given awards for their outstanding services while seven were awarded with ‘Special Honourary Award’ at the programme.
