The health ministry has launched a special initiative for surprise inspections of health facilities, especially hospitals, at the grassroots level.
A confidential list of hospitals, health complexes, community clinics and other health establishments has reportedly been prepared for such visits.
The inspections are expected to be carried out by joint secretaries and their subordinates from both the health ministry and the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The teams will collect information on the attendance of doctors, nurses and other staff, the status of patients and the quality of services provided.
A report will then be submitted with recommendations for punitive actions and suggestions for improving the quality of service.
Prof Dr Khondokar Md Sifayetullah, director general of the DGHS, told the Dhaka Tribune on Thursday that the unannounced inspections were already underway.
A team of Joint Health Secretary Basu Dev Ganguly and DGHS Director Dr Shah Newaz visited Mymensingh for inspections.
Dr Newaz admitted that the team had made the inspections but refused to reveal any details.
Seeking anonymity, several senior officials of the ministry and the DGHS said the directive on surprise visits had come from the Prime Minister’s Office.
They said thousands of people had been recruited in the health sector in the past five years, but most doctors refused to work outside Dhaka.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former health minister AFM Ruhal Hoque had earlier criticised those who refused to work at their assigned locations.
Young doctors and newly recruited staff allegedly throng the DGHS offices regularly with recommendations from influential individuals to secure postings at Dhaka or any other major cities.
On Thursday, newly appointed Health Minister Mohammed Nasim said doctors stationed in the rural areas must stay at their assigned postings for two years or risk facing drastic actions.
