Health Sector Reform Commission head Professor AK Azad Khan has termed the practice of doctors receiving commissions from pharmaceutical companies as ‘unethical and illegal’. He said that the commission would address the issue in clear terms in its forthcoming report.Â
AK Azad Khan made these remarks during a stakeholder meeting of the commission on Saturday at the Bir Uttam Shah Alam Auditorium at Chittagong Medical College.Â
Stakeholders from various health sectors, including physicians, faculties and students of medical colleges and universities, government health officials, nurses, health workers, private medical practitioners, and medical technologists, attended the meeting. Patients and service recipients, however, were absent at the meeting, raising concerns about the inclusivity of the discussion.Â
The discussion at the meeting primarily focused on challenges faced by physicians and healthcare providers. Some participants of the meeting questioned the absence of the representatives of patients and healthcare service users.
At the meeting criticising the practice of receiving commissions from drug companies, AK Azad Khan said, ‘This practice is immoral and illegal. It should not exist at all and will be explicitly mentioned in the commission’s report.’
Stressing his practice as a health professional, he further said, ‘As a doctor myself, I can affirm that taking commissions is not only unethical but also a violation of legal principles. Even if the report does not include explicit guidelines, the issue will remain highlighted.’
Several participants, especially physicians underscored the urgency of enhancing the quality of the healthcare services. They also emphasised the importance of health education to reduce the reliance on medical travel abroad and proposed increased budgetary allocations for the health sector.Â
The discussion also highlighted the risks posed to public health by the substandard private clinics, diagnostic centres, and public and private hospitals, particularly in the rural and remote areas.
Participants also raised concerns over inter-cadre disparities within the medical sector.Â
AK Azad Khan also noted that the commission was currently gathering opinions from stakeholders and would later include inputs from service recipients before finalising its report.Â
‘Timely and important proposals have emerged from this meeting aimed at creating a people-centric universal healthcare system. These insights will significantly contribute to the commission’s work,’ he said.
Health Sector Reform Commission members, including Dr Abu Mohammad Zakir Hossain, Umair Afif, and Professors Saira Akhter, Mozaherul Haque, Azharul Islam Khan, Syed Md Akram Hossain were present at the meeting.
The interim government formed the 12-member health sector reform commission led by Professor AK Azad Khan, also president of Diabetic Association of Bangladesh. The Cabinet Division issued a gazette notification in this regard on November 17.