54 ministry officials assigned to monitor hospital services

A total of 54 officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have been assigned to inspect hospitals and monitor their services, aiming to improve the quality of healthcare services in government hospitals, maintain administrative discipline, and ensure quality public service.

On September 30, the Health Services Division issued a notification to this end, which came into immediate effect.

The officers were given the responsibility of inspecting different 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 tasked with overseeing specific hospitals across various districts and divisions. Some officials have been given additional responsibility for hospitals in districts other than their primary assignment area.

The assigned officials will take necessary initiatives to improve healthcare services by coordinating with the heads of the respective hospitals regarding manpower, cleanliness, medical equipment, infrastructure development, security, and overall management.

They are required to regularly monitor the digital attendance of doctors and health workers at these hospitals and submit attendance-related data and reports to the authorities concerned.

Also, the assigned officials have been directed to play a role in ensuring the progress of vaccination programmes, infectious disease prevention, and public awareness activities by coordinating with relevant officials, including deputy commissioners, civil surgeons, upazila nirbahi officers (unos), and upazila health and family planning officers.

The officers will also participate in and provide necessary support for public health-related activities, including maternal and child health, geriatric healthcare, and nutrition programmes.

Additionally, they have been asked to encourage and provide necessary support to the concerned institutions in adopting innovative and effective initiatives to improve the quality of healthcare services.

The officials will conduct regular inspections of the districts, upazilas, and hospitals under their purview. Necessary steps must be taken to implement recommendations, observations, and suggestions identified during inspections, following discussions with the relevant stakeholders.

Reports based on the observations and recommendations of each inspection must be prepared and submitted to the designated department by the 7th of every month. Additionally, every designated official is required to complete at least one inspection per month, the notification said.