Nurjahan Begum, Advisor to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; has revealed that the Health Protection Act, which was initiated in 2014, is yet to be finalised. However, she expressed optimism that it will be submitted to the Cabinet (Council of Advisers) by next week.
She made the remarks on Friday afternoon while addressing an event as the chief guest at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Hall in Dhaka University.
The event, titled "Celebrating the 200th Medical Camp," was organised by Dreamer's Consultation and Research in collaboration with the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
Speaking about medical care for injured protesters, the health adviser said, "We are doing our best to facilitate the treatment of the injured. In addition to our local doctors, we have brought in medical professionals from France and China."
She also stated that eye specialists from Nepal have come, and they
confirmed that the treatment provided here has been appropriate.
The event was presided over by Dhaka University Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Mamun Ahmed. Other attendees included Hasnat Abdullah, Central Coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, along with Abdul Kader, Mahin Sarkar, doctors, volunteers, and students.
The government had taken an initiative to formulate ‘Health Protection Act’ aimed at improving health services in hospitals across the country. The Law Commission had prepared the draft of the proposed law.
The draft was sent to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare a few years back, but it was left on the shelf. The commission revised the draft law and sent it to the ministry again in February this year. However, ‘Health Protection Act’ was not passed in parliament.
The interim government, led by Dr Muhammad Yunus, has taken steps to enact a comprehensive law in this regard. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has initiated the procedure of enactment of a law on health protection.
Incidents of medical negligence are on the rise in the country. Sometimes patients die in hospital for wrong treatment or negligence. Medical negligence has become a regular phenomenon at the health facilities due to lack of an effective law.
Although medical negligence is a much-talked about issue in the country, there is no comprehensive law yet to prevent it. Lack of effective law and proper way of taking legal action often lead to chaos.
A comprehensive law defining medical negligence and setting compensation standards is vital for preventing medical negligence and curbing any untoward incidents. Against this backdrop, experts said that the move of the government to make a law in this regard is positive.
Although the ‘Consumers’ Right Protection Act 2009’, ‘Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council Act 2010’ and ‘The Penal Code 1860’ provide for some remedies, victims are not seen to complain in line with these laws. Even then, some victims go to the High Court for remedies. Some victims file cases against health professionals under the provisions of the Penal Code.
The draft of the proposed ‘Healthcare Act’ incorporated 65 clauses. There are 14 sections in the draft law. The proposed law defines various types of negligence by doctors, paramedics and medical institutions. Besides, there are several provisions in the draft law according to the nature of negligence.
