Gross irregularity inside Sohrawardi Hospital

by Zahid Al Amin
June 11, 2010

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/786/gross-irregularity-inside-sohrawardi-hospital

The medication services in the emergency unit of Shahid Sohrawardi Hospital (SSH), one of the largest public hospital in the capital, has completely collapsed. Every day patients are facing severe problems including harassment, misbehave and sexual abuse by the doctors and employees of the hospital.

During a recent field investigation, it was revealed that such mal practices have been taking place inside the hospital by organized gang under the protection of a section of the hospital authority.

Drug dealing, collecting of bribe from the patients and various anti-social activities continue throughout the day by miscreant groups. The situation turns much vulnerable during dark hours.

The gang is allegedly led by Milon and his gang of 15-20 people including Siddik, Rayhan, Jahangir, Rakib and Anis. It is alleged that Dr. Saiful Karim, who is a physician with emergency unit of the hospital leads such illegal activities.

During investigation it was also revealed that there are nearly 50 private pathological centers and clinics adjacent to this public hospital located around City College gate area. Some doctors of the hospital have been maintaining close connection with several private clinics and diagnosis centers including Dhaka lab, Smile Lab, Uni Lab and New Capital Clinic. An employee of a diagnostic centre informed this correspondent that Dr. Saiful takes TK. 5-6 hundred thousand in advance from the diagnostic centers of clinics for referring patients from the hospital.

Recently, a team of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) conducted raid at collage gate area and caught red-handed the cases of transferring patients from the state owned hospital to private clinics. In most cases, doctors and employees with Sohrawardy Hospital force the patients or their guardians to shift to nearby private clinics or diagnosis centers, though most of such private clinics and diagnosis centers lack minimum standard set by World Health Organization or Bangladesh government.

Sohrawardy hospital is also known as a safe haven of drug dealers and floating prostitutes. During dark hours, it is crowded with drug addicts and pimps, and all such illegal activities continue in presence of members of law enforcing agencies.

There are series of allegation of sexual harassment and rape inside the hospital by several doctors and staffs. In 2009 [November 24], a female patient named Shahida Khatun [ a house wife] came with leg injury. In the name of giving treatment, Dr. Saiful Karim attempted to rape her. Later, she managed to flee the spot and submitted written complaint with Ministry of Health seeking investigation into this matter.

Similar complaint was lodged by another college girl named Faria Islam against the emergency doctor. She came to the emergency door in the evening of March 23, 2010 with throat complications. The doctor took her inside his room and started molesting and hugging. While the doctor attempted to rape her, the girl shouted and other patients waiting outside came and rescued her from being raped.

Previously, Dr. Saiful Karim tried to rape another female patient and finally was forced to given a written note seeking apology for such behavior.

It is a mystery that in spite of the series of allegations of gross irregularities and sexual harassment, authorities concerned never initiated any action against Dr. Saiful or others, who are behind such heinous crime.

While contacted Dr. Saiful Karim denied all such allegations.

Related Topics:  Bangladesh News receive the latest by email: subscribe to weekly blitz's free mailing list