Health Minister Mohammad Nasim yesterday told the House the transfer of doctors from their workstations in rural areas and their leave entitlement would not be allowed.
“I will not allow this to happen. The doctors have to carry out their duties at local level at least two years,” the minister said.
He added that he did not entertain any request for transfer of doctors in the last one month and a half since he took office as health minister.
But a doctor-turned lawmaker Dr Habibe Millat disagreed with the minister, saying it is less likely that the physicians will be able to keep their body and soul together with the amount of salary they draw through their services.
“The neighbouring country pays two to three times the honorarium our physicians draw from their services in our country. If you want to keep doctors in their rural workstations you have to increase their salary.”
At this, the health minister toned down his speech and said the government would provide the doctors with incentives to keep them at their workstations in rural areas.
“We are thinking of this. We will take decision about the matter at the meeting of national council of health affairs headed by the prime minister,” said Nasim.
In answer to a supplementary question of Awami League lawmaker Abdul Mannan, Health Minister Nasim came up with his opinion on doctor transfer.
He told the House, “I am not helpless. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina entrusted me with a lot of responsibilities.”
In the last parliament, former health minister Ruhal Haque expressed his incapacity to compel the doctors to work in their posted rural areas.
Incumbent Health Minister Nasim urged lawmakers to see to it that the physicians observed their duties duly in their constituencies.
It was your duty to ensure doctors’ presence in the hospitals and health centres, the minister said, adding that you must monitor whether or not they were working properly.
“I want you to help continue my job and keep doctors in their respective workstations in rural areas to provide health care for all,” he said.
Nasim said a letter has been sent to all lawmakers that they observe that doctors continue with their job in their workplaces.