Health Ministry disburses incentive for doctors, nurses
Tribune DeskBangladesh
The Health Ministry has disbursed the first phase of the incentive package for healthcare professionals for performing their duties as front liners during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Prof Robed Amin, line director of non-communicable diseases at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), confirmed the matter at the health bulletin on Wednesday.
He said the first part of the incentive for health workers was cleared by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
During the first phase, 15 government hospital employees will receive the money.
Health workers of other government hospitals will be brought under incentives in phases.
Prof Robed urged everyone to be patient in this regard.
Following instructions of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Finance Ministry last year announced special incentives equivalent to two months' basic salaries to all healthcare professionals in public hospitals dedicated for Covid-19 treatment.
Later, the DGHS was asked to send a list of all such doctors, nurses and other healthcare staffers to the health ministry.
2,679 nurses to get Tk11 crore in incentive
The Ministry of Finance has sanctioned Tk11.05 crore to be disbursed among 2,679 nurses working at Covid-19 units of 22 hospitals in the country.
A circular signed by Md Abu Yusuf, joint secretary at the Ministry of Finance, was issued in this regard on Wednesday.
He said the money would be given as a one-time special honorarium to nurses directly involved in providing services to patients infected with coronavirus.
However, those who were recruited through outsourcing would not be considered to receive the incentive.
The incentive is being disbursed from the unspent budget of Tk150 crore for the DGHS in the revised budget of the Finance Ministry.
The recipients of the incentive will receive two months’ basic salaries equal to the salary drawn for the month of July 2020.
Of them, the highest number of nurses – 484 – are from Kurmitola General Hospital.
Some 456 nurses from Mugda General Hospital, 246 from Sheikh Russel National Gastroliver Institute and Hospital, 246 from Bogra General Hospital, 275 from Kuwait Bangladesh Friendship Government Hospital and nurses from some other hospitals will receive the incentive as well.