Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday issued a strict warning to government physicians and nurses to do their respective duties properly or quit their jobs.

‘The Ministry of Health should conduct a survey to find out how many patients go to government hospitals and why doctors are not found present in hospitals (district and upazila levels), if the transferred doctors do not engage in service then put them aside after making them OSDs, we don't need them; we’ll appoint new doctors,’ she said.

The Prime Minister came up with the warning while visiting the Health and Family Welfare Ministry at the Bangladesh Secretariat, reports the UNB.

She said there is an attitude among nurses that they will not serve patients as they have been promoted to second-class jobs. ‘No, this is not going to happen, they must serve (patients), we are giving them such honour so that they serve. Nurses are not supposed to just provide medicines to patients.’

The Prime Minister said making the nurses as second-class employee does not mean the government has to create another level of staff for providing services to patients. ‘We don't need that second class… whoever comes up with such an attitude that person doesnt need to be there in the job; this is my clear-cut words,’ the PM warned.

Regarding the allegations that the doctors are not attending their duties in government hospitals across the country, Sheikh Hasina asked the authorities concerned to introduce biometric attendance system in all hospitals to ensure 100 percent presence of the physicians.

She also put emphasis on bringing all the hospitals under the CC camera surveillance for ensuring the security of doctors and nurses. Hasina asked the doctors and nurses to pay due attention when a patient comes to a hospital. ‘Doctors must develop a service-oriented attitude.’

Talking about the private practice by physicians, Hasina said doctors in Bangladesh can carry out private practice unlike many countries in the world where government physicians are not allowed to do private practice.

She asked the Health Ministry to introduce the BSMMU system in all district hospitals where the doctors will be able to do their private practice in government hospitals after ‘their office hours.

The Prime Minister said those who will not do private practice the government may give them special incentives. ‘We can also think about it.’

Hasina said there are allegations that some doctors after their office hours carry out surgeries in private hospitals till late night. ‘How will they take care of patients in public hospitals in the morning? Attention should be given to this as well.’

She also asked the officials concerned to upgrade the curricula so that the doctors of the country can be at par with other doctors of the world.

The Prime Minister asked the Health Ministry to enhance the surveillance on the private medical colleges to make it sure that the students may have proper education so that they could be good doctors.

She also asked the officials concerned to look into the matter of clinical waste management with due importance.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Zahid Maleque and State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr M Murad Hasan were, among others, present.