Extra Tk 2 per ticket turns into a business of lakhs of taka
Photo: Agamir Somoy
At the Shribardi Health Complex in Sherpur (Upazila Health Complex), the outdoor department ticket costs Tk 3. But patients are being charged Tk 5. Only Tk 2 extra is being taken. Over time, this mere Tk 2 adds up to lakhs of taka.
Similarly, the admission fee for the emergency department is supposed to be Tk 5, but Tk 10 is being collected. Over the last six months, allegations have emerged that the Shribardi Health Complex in Sherpur has collected approximately Tk 1,43,512 in excess charges from patients. While this overcharging amounts to a business of lakhs of taka each year from patients' pockets, the authorities remain indifferent.
According to the latest revised circular from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the outpatient consultation fee at a government 50-bed Upazila Health Complex is Tk 3, and the admission fee is Tk 5. There is a provision that the daily ticket sale revenue must be deposited into the state treasury.
According to data provided by the hospital statistician, Roknuzzaman, in the current year, the number of patients receiving outpatient services was: January – 8,758; February – 8,760; March – 9,014; April – 11,735; May – 9,360; and June – 13,119. Over these six months, an additional Tk 1,21,492 was collected from patients through outdoor ticket sales.
A hospital employee, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed that this extra money is being collected by the hospital's cardiographer, Md. Babul.
During the same period, in the emergency department, the number of patients who purchased admission tickets was: January – 666; February – 666; March – 748; April – 829; May – 620; and June – 875. Allegations state that an additional Tk 22,020 was collected in this sector over six months.
To verify the allegations, a recent on-site visit to the hospital's outpatient department revealed that cardiographer Md. Babul was selling tickets. Patients who came for treatment stated that they were being charged Tk 5 instead of the Tk 3 ticket price. Several admitted patients also reported that they were charged Tk 10 instead of the Tk 5 admission fee.
Helal, an admitted patient, said, "The condition of the toilets here is absolutely terrible. Even a healthy person would become sick after going inside."
Begum, a patient receiving outpatient care, commented, "I have been seeing doctors here for a long time, and every day I am charged Tk 5 for the ticket. We did not know that the ticket fee is Tk 3."
When asked about the allegations, the responsible cardiographer, Md. Babul, said, "We don't have Tk 2 change, so we keep Tk 5. However, at the end of the day, we adjust the extra amount by showing additional tickets."
When the matter was raised, the hospital's Residential Medical Officer, Dr. Amiya Jyoti Saifullah, said there was no scope for collecting extra fees. After being informed, he immediately went to the ticket counter and told the patients, "The ticket price is Tk 3. Do not give Tk 5."
However, eyewitnesses claimed that after he left, tickets were again being sold for Tk 5.
The Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer, Dr. Abu Sadat Mohammad Mofidul Islam, said, "The outpatient ticket price is Tk 3, and the emergency admission fee is Tk 5. After receiving complaints of overcharging, the employee responsible for the counter has been warned. If further evidence of the allegation is found, strict action will be taken against him."
