54 health ministry officials assigned to monitor hospital services

The division issued a notification on September 30, which came into immediate effect, assigning the officials to inspect medical colleges, specialised hospitals, general hospitals, and district- and upazila-level hospitals across the country

The Health Services Division has assigned 54 officials to inspect hospitals and monitor healthcare services across Bangladesh to improve service quality, maintain administrative discipline and ensure quality public services at government hospitals.

The division issued a notification on September 30, which came into immediate effect, assigning the officials to inspect medical colleges, specialised hospitals, general hospitals, and district- and upazila-level hospitals across the country.

According to the notification, officials holding the ranks of additional secretary, joint secretary and deputy secretary have been assigned specific hospitals across different districts and divisions. Some officials have also been given additional responsibility for hospitals outside their primary areas of assignment.

The officials will coordinate with the heads of the respective hospitals and take necessary initiatives to improve healthcare services, including manpower, cleanliness, medical equipment, infrastructure, security and overall management.

They have also been instructed to regularly monitor the digital attendance of doctors and health workers and submit attendance-related data and reports to the authorities concerned.

The officials will coordinate with relevant officials, including deputy commissioners, civil surgeons, upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs) and upazila health and family planning officers, to help ensure progress in vaccination programmes, infectious disease prevention and public awareness activities.

They will also participate in and provide necessary support for public health programmes, including maternal and child health, geriatric healthcare and nutrition.

The notification also directed the officials to encourage healthcare institutions to adopt innovative and effective initiatives to improve the quality of services and provide necessary support for such initiatives.

The designated officials will conduct regular inspections of the districts, upazilas and hospitals under their purview. They must take necessary steps to implement recommendations, observations and suggestions made during inspections after discussions with relevant stakeholders.

Each official must conduct at least one inspection every month and prepare a report based on the observations and recommendations of each inspection. The reports must be submitted to the designated department by the 7th of every month, according to the notification.