Health DG apologises as journalists not allowed in RMCH for 5 years

Professor Dr Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, director-general of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), apologised as journalists have not been allowed to enter the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) for five years.

The health DG made this comment today during a meeting with journalists after visiting the hospital.

"Journalists have not been allowed to enter Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for five years. I heard the complaint for the first time. If I am responsible for this, then I am sorry," he added.

"No work can be done without the media. The country's media is a very powerful platform. If journalists do not highlight the development of the government health services, people will not know anything," said the health DG.

"I will request the director of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital to stay with the media and to collaborate with the journalists to make them work. I have requested you (director of RMCH) to take action as per the situation," Khurshid Alam also said.

About the country's position on the possible coronavirus vaccine, the director-general of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said, "The Prime Minister or the Health Minister will give directive about the Covid-19 vaccine. However, we are doing homework so that Bangladesh can get the vaccine immediately after invention."

On April 21, 2014, a group of interns beat up a relative of a patient undergoing treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital and seriously injured him. When the journalists went to take pictures of the relative, the interns attacked the journalists in groups. At least 10 journalists were injured during the attack. Since then, the authorities have banned the entry of journalists in the hospital by hanging notices several times.