BANGLADESH

The Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) has started evening specialists' consultation services in the hospital, first of its kind in Bangladesh.

Professors and associate professors of Medicine, Paediatricts, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Skin and Venereal Diseases, Ear, Nose and Throat, and Physical Medicine departments will see patients everyday from 3pm to 6pm.

Vice-chancellor Prof Pran Gopal Datta on Saturday opened the services that offer specialists' prescription only for Tk 200, which is otherwise Tk 500 to Tk 700 in private chambers.

"It's an attempt to promote institutional practices in the country," the vice-chancellor told bdnews24.com after cutting ribbon of the services on the first floor of the cabin block building of the university in city's Shahbagh area.

"The university will get Tk 50 per ticket, while the rest will be paid to the specialists and staff who will work overtime," he said, adding the syndicate will decide about the payment.

"Other departments will also start sitting here gradually," he said, "We will not allow below associate professors to see patients."

Al-Amin who was waiting in the queue with his mother said he came from Comilla to see Prof Pran Gopal, a renowned ENT specialist, in the chamber.

"I came in the morning, but did not get a number. They (chamber attendants) told me to go to the BSMMU in the evening to see Pran Gopal," Al-Amin told bdnews24.com.

At least 70 tickets were sold out within 40 minutes of opening the services.

Prof M Iqbal Arslan, dean of the Basic Sciences Division, told bdnews24.com that these patients would get laboratory services until 8pm cheaper than any private facility.

He saw it a 'breakthrough' in medical practices in the country.

"If we can sustain it, it will open a new horizon," said Arslan, also a leader of pro-government doctors' forum.

Medical analysts, however, remain skeptical on the future of the services.

"It's neither an evening outdoor, nor an institutional practice," Prof Rashid-e-Mahbub, president of Health Rights Movement National Committee told bdnews24.com.

"In evening outdoors, you cannot charge more than the usual, and in institutional practices, doctors are not allowed to practice outside hospital," he said, adding the model BSMMU has launched is 'very new' to him.

"It will not be unusual if I hear one day that patients of the morning outdoor are kept for evening specialists' consultation," he said.

The university charges Tk 30 for its morning outdoor services.