The health minister has said that Bangladesh is much better than Europe and America in terms of coronavirus infection.
“The Covid-19 has hit countries in various stages around the world. What is the situation in Europe and America? Bangladesh is much better than that,” Zahid Maleque said while addressing an orientation function of newly appointed doctors at the BCPS auditorium in Mohakhali yesterday.
He said that there were many people working to prevent the coronavirus. For this reason, the number of cases and deaths had been low in Bangladesh. The health ministry and other affiliated ministries were working together, he stated.
‘Sending back patients is a crime’
Emphasizing the treatment of all patients, the health minister said that hospitals must ensure that not a single patient was sent back. He called upon the newly appointed doctors to provide medical services to Covid-19 as well as other patients.
Maleque said: “If a patient comes for treatment and has to return unattended, it is a crime. And such behavior will not be tolerated.”
“The hospital was built with people's money. Your [hospital staff] salaries are also paid by the public. So they have to be treated. If there is any negligence in their treatment, it will not be tolerated,” he added.
Earlier on May 4, the government issued a circular appointing 2,000 doctors from the 39th BSS (special) to deal with the Covid-19 crisis. The newly appointed doctors joined their respective workplaces on Tuesday.
These 2,000 doctors were recommended for recruitment as non- cadres, but due to the current situation, they were swiftly recruited as cadres. Besides, 5,000 nurses have also been appointed for the same purpose.