Most government hospitals that introduced private practice for physicians during the previous regime have closed them in two and a half years after its introduction.
Health services officials said that at least 170 hospitals began institutional private practice after office hours in March 2023.
Only about 30 of them continued while the rest were shut down in phases, including a wave of closure after the 2024 political changeover.
Health rights activists observed that the initiative allowing doctors to visit patients at government hospitals in exchange for fixed fees had the potential to ease the burden of high healthcare costs for ordinary people.
They, however, blamed unplanned rollout, shortage of doctors, mismanagement and political indecision for its failure.
The Directorate General of Health Services director general, Professor Md Abu Jafor, said that the scheme was voluntary, not mandatory, for doctors.
鈥楽ince hospitals are already struggling with doctor shortages, we could not continue with it,鈥� he said, adding that the government remained undecided about its future.
According to DGHS data, the initiative began in at least 170 facilities, including 27 in Dhaka division, 33 in Chattogram, 24 in Rangpur, 24 in Rajshahi, 19 in Khulna, 19 in Sylhet, six in Barishal, and 18 in Mymensingh division.
Officials said that most of these facilities had suspended the services for a long time.
Dhaka district civil surgeon Mohammad Zillur Rahman said that only two centres, Savar Upazila Health Complex and Tejgaon Thana Health Complex, were still running the services with limited manpower, while three others closed them almost immediately after opening due to staff shortage.
Mymensingh divisional health director Pradip Kumar Saha and other divisional officials confirmed that most centres in their areas had also stopped operating.
In Rajshahi, Paba Upazila Health Complex has kept the services closed for one year.
鈥榃e could consult with good doctors at a low cost. Now we are forced to spend more in private clinics. It is difficult for poor people like us,鈥� a resident in Paba, Enamul Haque, said.
The government fixed Tk 500 as honorarium for senior professors, Tk 400 for associate professors and senior consultants, Tk 300 for assistant professors and junior consultants, and Tk 200 for MBBS and BDA doctors.
Patients said that the same doctors were charging at least double in their private chambers.
Rajshahi civil surgeon SIM Rajiul Karim said that the doctors鈥� private practice after office hours at government hospitals in Rajshahi had halted due to poor patient turnout. 鈥業t has not been officially shut down, but reforms are needed to revive and popularise it,鈥� he said.
Public health experts said that the programme failed due to poor planning.聽 Dhaka University鈥檚 Institute of Health Economics professor Syed Abdul Hamid said, 鈥業nstitutional practice is a good idea, but it should be integrated with diagnostic and pharmacy services.鈥�
Public health expert Professor Abu Jamil Faisel also called for the resumption of the scheme. 鈥業nstitutional evening practice has many benefits. The government should act to revive it,鈥� he said.
