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BANGLADESH is a country of financially weak population. More than 25 per cent of our people, i.e., over 40 million, are extreme poor and more than 60 per cent, i.e., 96 million, are poor. Modern medical service is a matter of distant dream for them. When anyone becomes sick, the whole family is worried about exorbitant medical expenses.
I would like to draw the attention of our doctors to this fact and appeal them to treat people accordingly. But the common attitude of the doctors towards their patients is far from being sympathetic and sensible. Series of pathological tests are normally prescribed putting the poor patients under severe financial stress. Costly medication gives an impression that they do not bother about the financial position of the patients. As doctors are highly educated people and are widely respected in society, they should be more judicious while prescribing tests for their patients. They should avoid prescribing unnecessary tests and expensive medicines. In fact, the same medicine with different brand names and manufactured by different pharmaceutical companies is available in the market with abnormal price variations. Also redundant medicines are sometimes prescribed which could easily be avoided.
I fervently appeal to the doctors of the country to avoid prescribing costly medicines as far as possible and prescribe medicines of lower price without compromising on quality. Such medicines are available in the market. We do not want to see our doctors being branded as unsympathetic and inconsiderate to their patients. That is how doctors can save their patients from extra troubles.
Md Ashraf Hossain
8/A, Rmna, Dhaka-1000