'Situation worse in rural health complexes'

It said the situation is particularly worse in rural health complexes at union and upazila levels.

The study was conducted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine of the United Kingdom in 14 districts of the country.

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The study report was presented at a national workshop on Research Findings Dissemination of the Health System Development Programme (HSDP) yesterday.

The Health Economics Unit of the health and family welfare ministry organised the workshop.

According to the study, 55 per cent post of doctors at upazila health complexes (UHC) and 30 per cent in district hospitals are lying vacant.

Absence of doctors at family welfare centres at union level is depriving the poor people of health facilities.

Although the infrastructure facilities in health sector are well developed in comparison to that of many other developing countries, the utilisation of these facilities is very low, according to a study on 'the situation analysis of the maternal health care delivery system in Bangladesh'.

In another study on 'enhancing health system performance using procurement and supply of goods', Charles Normand, professor of London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said the health ministry provides 40 to 50 per cent of the total demands for different medical and surgical requisites (MSR).

The lowest proportion (34.7 per cent) of demands is met in case of community clinics, he said.

While conducting the survey on 1,211 patients, it was found that 91 per cent of them do not know what medicines are available in the hospitals, he added.

The study showed that 75.5 per cent of the patients bought medicines from outside for their treatment in hospitals.

This figure was lowest in case of upazila health complex (64 per cent) and highest for district hospitals (78.1 per cent).

They were forced to buy medicines from outside the hospitals because the service providers asked them to do so.

Regarding the qualification of the staff in logistics management of the health sector he said 15 per cent of the staff acquired post graduation degree, 27 per cent MBBS degree, 45 per cent below graduation. The staff lack training and also experience.

On the other hand, the procurement period is very lengthy in Bangladesh, he added.

Barbara Mc Pake, head of Health Policy Unit of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, made a presentation on the international perspective of HSDP and future plan in Bangladesh.

Health Secretary M Fazlur Rahman, World Health Organisation Representative Suniti Acharya, Senior Health Advisor and First Secretary of DFID Neil Squires, and Additional Health Secretary Md Lutfor Rahman Chowdhury were present at the inaugural session of the workshop.