Dhaka: Overseas training is essential for modernizing medical science, but government doctors face regulatory restrictions when attempting to travel abroad at their own expense, which has become a major obstacle to the advancement of the country’s healthcare sector. Professor Dr. Nadim Ahmed of the Surgery Department at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) expressed these views in an interview with BSS.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Dr. Nadim highlighted the administrative hurdles faced by government doctors who wish to pursue advanced training overseas at their own expense. Current regulations mandate that government doctors can only attend such training if foreign funding is available, which is often not the case given that countries like the USA, UK, or Singapore typically charge for training programs.
Dr. Nadim explained that many doctors fund their own overseas training to learn new techniques, which they then apply back home. This practice benefits the country by enabling procedures like laparoscopic surgeries to be performed at minimal cost in government hospitals, saving significant amounts of foreign currency.
He urged the government to simplify the process for doctors wishing to train abroad at their own expense. While Bangladesh has made substantial progress in healthcare, performing complex surgeries such as kidney transplants domestically, the country still lags in certain advanced technologies like robotic surgery. However, he noted that institutions like Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) and some private hospitals have begun offering robotic surgery.
Discussing transplant surgeries, Dr. Nadim pointed out legal and infrastructural challenges. Currently, only relatives can donate organs, which limits the country’s transplant capabilities. In wealthier countries, complex surgeries are often conducted in the private sector due to the high costs of the necessary infrastructure.
Dr. Nadim emphasized that the government alone cannot bear the expenses of advanced surgeries and that private sector involvement is crucial. He also highlighted the strain on resources at DMCH, where the surgery department has 250 beds but admits over 400 patients, limiting educational opportunities for medical students and research for doctors.
He proposed dividing medical colleges into two types: ‘service hospitals’ for general care and ‘academic hospitals’ for specialized treatment and training. Dr. Nadim stressed that regular doctor training is essential for keeping up with evolving medical science.
On public confidence in domestic healthcare, Dr. Nadim noted a decrease in patients traveling abroad for treatment, with even senior government officials now opting for local care. However, he acknowledged the need for further infrastructural development and skilled manpower for highly advanced procedures like liver transplants.
He also raised concerns about the uneven distribution of surgeons and the shortage of anesthetists and support staff at district levels, which hampers the delivery of surgical care outside major urban centers.
Dr. Nadim expressed concern over the safety and work environment for doctors, highlighting issues like hospital vandalism and attacks on doctors following patient deaths. He also mentioned the lack of a salary structure in private jobs, which drives many talented doctors to leave the country.
Regarding surgical errors, Dr. Nadim said adherence to WHO checklists could minimize incidents like leaving gauze inside patients. He called for increased awareness and infrastructural development to improve surgical outcomes in Bangladesh.