Asif Nazrul urges doctors not to conduct unnecessary tests

Law Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul has urged doctors not to prescribe unnecessary tests to patients.

Speaking on Saturday at a program organized by the Bangladesh Private Hospital, Clinic and Diagnostic Owners’ Association, he also called on physicians not to act as middlemen.

“People do not want to seek treatment in India and Thailand. Bangladesh has the capacity to provide proper medical services,” said Dr. Asif.

The law adviser alleged that patients are often forced to buy medicines from specific companies.

Expressing concern over doctors’ links with pharmaceutical firms, he asked, “In which country in the world does a doctor allocate separate time for a pharmaceutical company representative? Are you pharmaceutical brokers? To what level are you taking yourselves?”

Sharing a personal example, Asif Nazrul said, “A boy who worked as a helping hand in my house went to a private hospital in Dhaka. He was given 14 tests. Later, he got angry and sought treatment outside Dhaka, and he did not need so many tests.”

He also criticized hospital services, saying, “If a nurse gets a salary of Tk 12,000, how can she maintain a good temper and provide good service?” The adviser urged hospital owners to reduce profit margins to resolve the problem.