PHA-Exch> Health Rights Forum calls to stop privatisation of public hospitals

[Health Right]

*Health Rights Forum calls to stop *
*privatisation of public hospitals *

*
Staff Correspondent *

Privatisation of public hospitals runs counter to the constitution which
obliges the state to provide health care for all its citizens and which
recognises healthcare as a right, Health Rights Forum leaders said.    This
move is also not within the purview or mandate of the interim government,
said the health rights organisation leaders at a news briefing in Dhaka on
Saturday.
   The forum called on the government to stop the process of privatisation
under the guise of giving them autonomy and introducing the provision for
fees.
   They demanded revision of the health policy to provide modern healthcare
facilities for people.
   Journalist Kamal Lohani read out a statement demanding investigation of
corruption or irregularities in the projects, funded by international
financial institutions.
   The statement criticised the government decision to accept the
prescriptions of the lending agencies although it contradicted the
constitution and despite the fact that there were imitable examples of
government-run health care across the world.
   The statement also demanded that the government should take steps to
revive and ensure better healthcare services in government hospitals and
enact appropriate laws to ensure the accountability of private medical
facilities.
   The Doctors for Health and Environment president, Rashid-E-Mahbub, Nitai
Das of the Health Rights Movement and Save the Environment Movement convener
Abu Naser Khan spoke at the briefing.
   Rashid said the government had begun to privatise public hospitals when
it should have, instead, improved services in such places.
   Rashid also said only 10 to 15 per cent of the people now have access to
government healthcare services and the hospital autonomy move will further
reduce the number.
   Kamal said the move would not address the woes of the common people that
there are not enough medicines, quality treatment or diagnosis facilities.
It will, in fact, worsen the situation and impede people's access to health
care, he said.
   The forum called on human rights activists, economists, intellectuals,
doctors, health
   workers, cultural activists and media professionals to come forward to
protect the public health sector and other public enterprises.
 http://www.newagebd.com/nat.html#2

Abu Naser Khan
Convaner
Health Right Forum
58/1, 1 lane Kalabagan, Dhaka
Phone: 8801819218035
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