Bangladesh Healthcare: When the Cure Is More Dangerous Than the Sickness

A chilling sentiment is echoing through Bangladesh: "I've lost faith in this country's doctors." These are the heartbreaking words of Fakhrul Alam, a resident of Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, who spoke to BBC Bangla. His trust, like that of countless others, has been shattered by a system grappling with issues ranging from misdiagnosis and negligence to a profound lack of accountability.

Mr. Alam's tragedy began about a year ago when his eldest son, Ahnaf Tahmid, died while undergoing a routine circumcision at a private hospital in Dhaka. The devastating loss has left his family deeply skeptical of the nation's medical services. "It's time for my younger son's circumcision as well," Mr. Alam shared, his voice heavy with apprehension, "But I don't have the courage to take him to any hospital."

This fear persists despite having relatives who are doctors. "They are also suggesting I take him to them," he confided, "But I'm not. I'm scared, what if the same thing happens again!"

Fakhrul Alam's experience is not an isolated one. A growing number of Bangladeshis are losing confidence in their healthcare system, leading to a significant medical exodus. Every year, an estimated 800,000 people seek treatment abroad in countries like India, Thailand, and Singapore. This medical tourism drains approximately five billion US dollars from Bangladesh's economy annually, according to Bangladesh Bank.

Dr. Mozaharul Hoque, a former advisor for the World Health Organization's South-East Asia region and a public health expert, put it bluntly to BBC Bangla: "Simply put, patients are going abroad for treatment because they are not receiving the standard of healthcare they expect from doctors here. To earn their trust, service quality must be improved, and accountability must be ensured."

The Agony of Misdiagnosis and Flawed Reports

The struggle to get an accurate diagnosis is a significant driver of medical tourism. Bazlur Rahman, an employee of a private firm, recounted his harrowing experience. For two years, he suffered from escalating abdominal pain. "I've shown myself to at least ten to twelve doctors in the country," he told BBC Bangla, "But no one could tell me what exactly was wrong with me." After spending over 100,000 Taka on consultations, tests, and ineffective medication, he finally traveled to Chennai, India. "Upon going there, it was found that I have an ulcer in my colon," he said, frustrated. "Yet, doctors in my country couldn't diagnose it even in a year. My money was wasted, and I had to suffer as well."

Disturbingly, research indicates that about 53% of Bangladeshis seeking medical treatment overseas do so primarily for diagnosis and health check-ups, according to Dr. Ahmad Ehsanur Rahman, a scientist at icddr,b.

Adding to the crisis are frequent instances of incorrect medical reports. In a shocking 2023 incident in Nilphamari, an ultrasonography report from a local diagnostic center falsely declared a school-going teenage girl pregnant. Subsequent tests at other hospitals confirmed she was not. An investigation later revealed the initial diagnostic center lacked trained personnel to perform ultrasonography.

"Especially with reports that patients bring from outside Dhaka, we often see various inconsistencies," said Dr. Shahnur Sharmin, a medicine specialist at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Public health expert Dr. Mushtaq Hossain warned, "Since doctors prescribe medication based on test reports, incorrect reports can lead to medication being given for the wrong disease. Instead of recovering, the patient's life is put at risk."

"They Don't Want to Listen": The 48-Second Consultation

A long-standing grievance among patients is the minimal time doctors spend with them. "He doesn't even listen properly to the problem I go to him with. As soon as I go, he prescribes some tests and medicines," lamented Khadija Begum from Munshiganj. Her frustration is validated by research; a study in the British Medical Journal found that doctors in Bangladesh spend an average of a mere 48 seconds per patient, one of the lowest rates globally.

"How can a doctor understand a patient's condition in such a short time, and what kind of service can the patient expect to receive?" questioned Dr. Ahmad Ehsanur Rahman, highlighting this as another factor pushing patients abroad.

A System Lacking Oversight and Accountability

While official figures list around 15,000 registered private hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centers, experts believe the actual number is far higher. Many of these facilities, particularly outside Dhaka, operate with little administrative oversight, often lacking specialist doctors and trained personnel.

"It is seen that incorrect medical test reports are being issued from those hospitals and diagnostic centers," Dr. Shahnur Sharmin noted. Many attribute this to a profit-driven mindset among owners. "To save costs and make more profit, they do not hire skilled and trained personnel. Yet, they collect money from patients under various pretexts," stated Dr. Mushtaq Hossain.

This lack of oversight can have fatal consequences. "The administration only takes notice after a patient dies," said S M Nazer Hossain, Vice President of the Consumer Association of Bangladesh (CAB). "Then they go and utter a memorized line that the hospital was not approved. Before that, there's no inquiry."

Officials from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) acknowledge challenges. Dr. Abu Hossain Mohammad Moinul Ahsan, Director (Hospitals and Clinics) of DGHS, cited manpower shortages and multiple responsibilities of inspecting officials.

Justice Delayed, Justice Denied?

The quest for accountability often ends in despair for families who have lost loved ones. In 2024, five-year-old Ayan Ahmed died during a circumcision procedure at United Medical College and Hospital in Dhaka. His family alleged medical negligence. Though the hospital's operations (it was unapproved and under construction) were initially suspended and a High Court-appointed committee recommended legal action against the hospital and two doctors, Ayan's father, Shamim Ahmed, told BBC Bangla, "the reality is, none of those recommendations have been implemented." The hospital reportedly resumed operations within months.

Shamim Ahmed with his little son, lost to the broken healthcare system in Bangladesh.

"Every day on my way home, I see the hospital and think, where are we living?" Mr. Ahmed said, grief-stricken. "They killed my only son and are carrying on their business with impunity. Yet, there was no justice, no punishment."

Fakhrul Alam, still mourning his son Ahnaf Tahmid, shares this sense of hopelessness. "In this country, the lives of ordinary people have no value. There is no rule of law. Everyone is hostage to power. So how will there be progress?"

Experts warn that the failure to ensure fair trials and punish those responsible for irregularities, corruption, and negligence in the health sector allows such incidents to recur, further deepening the crisis of trust. Restoring public faith in Bangladesh's healthcare system requires a concerted effort towards improving service quality, ensuring rigorous monitoring, and, crucially, establishing unwavering accountability.

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