Govt facilities, not hotels for their stay

The health ministry is planning to provide accommodation for doctors, health workers and staffers involved in treating Covid-19 patients at government installations instead of private hotels.

Those unwilling to stay at government installations will be given allowances to bear the accommodation expenses.

The ministry's Health Service Division (HSD) has already sent a proposal to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in this regard, said Muhibur Rahman, additional secretary (hospital wing) at HSD.

The move comes following recent media reports of controversy over hotel bills.

Speaking in parliament on June 29, Deputy Leader of the Opposition GM Quader raised the issue of spending Tk 20 crore by Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) for accommodation, food and transportation of health workers involved in treating Covid-19 patients.

He said Tk 20 crore was spent for food and hotel stay of DMCH doctors and health workers, which was doubtful.

Speaking on the issue, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in parliament said the Tk 20 crore bill for hotel rent and food for medical college employees seemed a bit unusual to her.

After a couple of days, DMCH Director Brig Gen AKM Nasir Uddin at a press conference said they rented rooms at 30 hotels in the capital for between Tk 350 and Tk 5,500 per night for 1,894 healthcare workers.

On the other hand, there is an allegation against the authorities of Mugda Medical College Hospital about misappropriating money allocated for accommodation of doctors, nurses, and staffers at a hotel.

On July 9, Anti-Corruption Commission Deputy Assistant Director Mohammad Sahajahan Meraz in separate letters asked the acting director of the hospital, Dr Rowson Anwar, and the management of Hotel 71 to submit documents to the commission on the accommodation expenses of doctors, nurses and staffers.

Sources confirmed that "irregularities" took place in the contract award process involving Mugda hospital and Hotel 71.

Talking to the Daily Star, Meraz said he received documents from the hospital and hotel authorities and was examining those.

Asked about the reasons for sending the proposal on accommodation of doctors, health workers, and staffers, the HSD additional secretary said they were doing it with a view to saving public money.

"Won't it save our money? We have already given verbal orders to some hospital directors to provide accommodation for doctors, health workers, and staffers at government installations," Muhibur told The Daily Star.

He declined to give details of accommodation allowances. "You will know about it once the proposal gets approval. You will have to wait until then."

He, however, said some doctors were already staying at the Bangladesh Institute of Administration and Management (BIAM) in the capital's Eskaton.

According to statistics of the Directorate General of Health Services, 5,726 doctors, 10,000 nurses and 7,516 health workers are involved in providing treatment to Covid-19 patients across the country.