Health Minister Orders Probe Into Gross Mismanagement at Bagerhat Hospital
Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain expressed deep dissatisfaction with the state of the Morelganj Upazila Health Complex in Bagerhat on Saturday, citing widespread mismanagement and irregularities discovered during an unannounced inspection.
Accompanied by the Bagerhat District Commissioner and the Police Superintendent, the minister toured the facility’s various departments and spoke with patients. During his visit, he discovered a stockpile of expired medicines worth several lakhs scattered inside an abandoned building. Furthermore, he found essential medical supplies, including saline bags and syringes, discarded in an unused restroom.
The inspection also brought to light a potential conflict of interest involving the Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer (THO), Kamal Hossain Mufti. Minister Hossain investigated reports that the official was operating a private clinic adjacent to the state-run hospital. After finding preliminary evidence to support these claims, the minister reprimanded the official on-site.
Minister Hossain also audited the facility’s biometric attendance logs, which revealed that several physicians had been consistently arriving late for their shifts. The inspection took a sharp turn when the minister contacted Bagerhat Civil Surgeon Dr. Mahabubul Alam, who claimed to be on leave. When the minister inquired about the authorization for this leave, the Civil Surgeon stated he had received verbal permission from the Divisional Director of Health in Khulna.
Upon verification, however, Khulna Divisional Director Sheikh Md. Mosharraf Hossain informed the minister that he had not approved any such leave. Consequently, Minister Hossain directed the Divisional Director to conduct a formal investigation into the Morelganj facility to determine accountability for the reported lapses.
Addressing reporters, the minister emphasized the government’s commitment to providing quality healthcare to impoverished citizens despite existing resource constraints. He announced plans to upgrade the 50-bed hospital to a 101-bed facility, with a tender expected to be issued in the near future.
"I am visiting every location where irregularities are reported," Minister Hossain said, noting that while he cannot inspect every hospital in the country within four months, he has meticulously documented the failures at Morelganj. He promised that discussions with senior authorities in Dhaka would follow, leading to systemic changes in healthcare delivery.
The minister later visited the Sharankhola Upazila Health Complex, where he expressed satisfaction with the standard of care provided. He concluded his tour by assuring local staff that the government would act swiftly to address staffing shortages in the region.
