Desk Report:
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has found evidence of various irregularities after conducting a raid at the 250-bed General Hospital in Jessore. The investigation team of the ACC Jessore Integrated Office conducted a raid on the hospital on Sunday afternoon.
It is learnt that on this day, a team led by Mohammad Al-Amin, Assistant Director (AD) of the ACC Jessore Integrated Office, visited various wards, washrooms, kitchens, medicine storerooms, and pathology departments of the hospital. During this time, they also examined various documents of the hospital. During the raid, they found various irregularities ranging from food supply to medical services.
ACC officials went to the hospital kitchen and checked the quality of food for patients. It was seen that although 200 grams of rice was supposed to be given, patients were being given less. Instead of fine rice, coarse rice was being given. The quantity of bread for breakfast was not correct. The pulses were also of low quality. Although 80 grams of fish was supposed to be given, half of it was being given. There was no salt in the food. Patients and their relatives complain that such low-quality food is being served regularly, but the authorities concerned are not taking action.
ACC officials went to the diarrhea ward and found that despite having 160 pieces of diarrhea saline in stock, patients were being asked to buy saline from an outside shop. When asked about the matter, the senior nurse in charge of the ward said that there were instructions from above. ACC officials expressed their anger over this and ordered the hospital authorities to reprimand the nurse.
During the operation, ACC officials went to the plaster room and found that none of the people working there were authorized or card-holding employees of the hospital. Yet, they were charging patients Tk 100, Tk 200 or Tk 500 for plastering. ACC officials ordered immediate action to stop such illegal money collection.
After the operation, ACC officials went to the office of the hospital’s superintendent Md. Hossain Shafayat and raised various irregularities. They asked the superintendent to take strict action to take action against the irregularities.
After the operation, ACC Jessore’s Assistant Director Al-Amin told reporters, “Today’s operation was conducted based on complaints. We were surprised that the food being served to patients at the hospital using rice, pulses, oil and other cooking materials is of very low quality. The rice is broken, half-broken. Fish is supposed to be given in 80 grams; but it is being given in 45 grams. Although there are medicines in the storeroom, patients have to buy many medicines, especially saline, from outside. The complaints received during the operation will be verified and necessary legal action will be taken. In addition, the ACC will monitor whether the instructions given to the hospital authorities regarding irregularities are being implemented or not.”
