Private clinics and hospital-owners have announced closure of surgeries due to increase in fees of anesthesiologists.
Operation theaters (OTs) of all clinics in Rajshahi remain closed from Thursday (September 21).
Earlier, the leaders of Rajshahi branch of Bangladesh Private Clinic, Hospital and Diagnostic Owners Association made this announcement in a press conference at a Chinese restaurant in Rajshahi last Wednesday evening.
They said the new fee set by anesthesiologists will be double of the current fee. If this is implemented, all categories of patients will be affected when they come to undergo surgery, as well as private clinics and hospitals will also be affected.
Mukhleshur Rahman, general secretary of the organization, said that if the rates set by the anesthesiologists are implemented, the medical expenses will increase further. As a result, many people, especially low-income people, will find medical expenses unaffordable. They cannot afford to pay for emergency surgery. Their lives will be in danger.
It has been decided to stop all types of surgery in all private hospitals and clinics in Rajshahi from Thursday (September 21). They said that they have taken this decision in the interest of the patients.
Meanwhile, BSA Rajshahi Branch General Secretary Dr. Md. Khizir Hossain said, after 2016, our fee was not increased. Clinics and hospital-owners charge more money from patients in the name of anesthesiologists during operations. We told them, we have to pay the money taken in our name (anesthesiologist).
Highlighting the new fee hike, he said, currently, anesthesiologists get Tk. 1,500 to Tk. 2,000 for caesarean section. We have demanded to make that fee 2500. But the clinic-owners are saying that we are demanding a double fee increase.
Before this, on September 4, Bangladesh Society of Anesthesiologists (BSA) Rajshahi branch sent a new list of remuneration to various private clinics and hospitals, causing bargaining and moral pollution between the two sides. In view of this, the private clinic and hospital-owners have announced the suspension of surgery from tomorrow.