Not even a single day or an hour with corruption: Health secretary

The secretary of the Health Services Division under the health ministry, Md Abdul Mannan, has said that he does not want to live with corruption for even a single day or an hour.

We are taking initiatives against corruption every day, he said, mentioning that a professor physician was terminated only yesterday.

He said this while inspecting the health care activities of Narayanganj General (Victoria) Hospital in Nitaiganj of the district on Monday.

He also mentioned the initiative of seeking explanations from the Directorate General of Health Service (DGHS) over the Regent Hospital scam.

Nobody is being spared if he/she is involved in corruption in Regent Hospital or JKG Healthcare, said Mannan.  

He further said that no one will be exempted if there is any evidence of irregularities and corruption in any place under the health ministry. "In the meantime, we have begun to take action against corruption."

The health secretary said the prime minister has declared a zero tolerance policy against corruption.

"But sometimes it is late when we have information and data. You people said it right that there has been corruption in the health sector. However, the Anti-Corruption Commission did not sit idle. It has been working and the health ministry is cooperating with it by providing data and information."

Mannan admitted that there is a shortage of manpower in the health sector. In this regard, he sought cooperation from the media.

He said actions will be taken if the media provides information on irregularities and corruption in any government or private hospital not only in Dhaka but also in Narayanganj.

Responding to a question from reporters, the secretary said that Covid-19 patients are treated at Khanpur 300-bed hospital.

"The hospital has only 26 patients. Nevertheless, there have been complaints of lack of health services."

Mannan assured that the authorities will look into why the patients are not getting appropriate services.