“We’ve taken steps to provide six doctors to each upazila. A directive in this regard has already been issued. The process will be completed within a few days,” he said replying to a supplementary question from opposition MP Fakhrul Imam in the House.

The minister said most allegations that come against the health sector are regarding doctors, particularly the attendance of upazila-level ones.

He, however, said the government is taking adequate steps in this regard.

To ensure the attendance of doctors at the upazila level, Zahid Maleque said, monitoring cells have been set up in his ministry, the Directorate General of Health Services and its divisional offices.

“The monitoring process has started. We’ll be able to ensure the attendance of doctors, if the monitoring tasks can be done proper. If their attendance can be ensured, there’ll be no allegation,” he said.

About the recent visits of Anti-Corruption Commission officials to several hospitals, the minister said they (ACC) found doctors absent there. “If anyone remains absent, it’s considered as corruption,” he added.

Mentioning that the ministry received a number of suggestions from the ACC on the issue, Zahid Maleque said the ministry will follow its guidelines and policy. “We’ll surely try to prevent corruption in the health sector.” 

The minister said the ACC has brought corruption allegations against 23 junior officials of the health sector. “We’ll surely take punitive actions against them if they are found guilty.”