The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Unit-8 of Rapid Action Battalion deployed at Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) started implementing a system under a pilot project of the joint forces to restore discipline and improve standard of services.

This project includes ensuring control of visitors and attendants, healthy and hygienic atmosphere, sanitation, lighting, proper treatment, sufficient diet, attendance and service of the physicians, hospital staffs, and prevention of smoking, betel leaf and other harmful things.

Deputy Director of the hospital Dr. Suvash Chandra Das said, 4 vigilance teams of the hospital authority with the help of the law enforcers started continuous monitoring of the newly introduced systems in 40 wards of the hospital since November 1, 2007. Under this project, entrance of medical representatives has been prohibited; doctors and staffs are directed to give regular services wearing prescribed uniform with nameplates. Cleaners have been ordered to clean the hospital floors, toilets, passages and the rooms every alternative hour.

Four lifts of the hospital building have been made operative by Ansars. RAB, Police and Ansar camps at the hospital premises have been set up to ensure discipline, law and order and prevent unwanted trespassers and outsiders.

As a result of the strict implementation of the project, more than 800 visitors and attendants of the patients had to purchase passes and cards at the cost of Tk.60 per head on Thursday. However from that amount Tk. 50 would be returned back at the time of the surrender of the cards.

Four check points were also set up to check the passes at the entrance and exit points of the hospital building.

Mobile vigilance team led by Osman Ali Khan, deputy director of RAB-8, expelled unauthorized visitors and attendants with a note of caution in case of repetition of the same.

The vigilance teams also checked the standard of food and medicine supplied to the patients.

They also took note of the allegations from the patients and directed hospital authorities to take necessary steps.

Md. Harun Chowdhury, Divisional Commissioner, Aminul Islam, deputy inspector general of police of Barisal range visited SBMCH to inspect the procedure and result of the implementation of this project, sources said.