Adviser’s Multimillion-Taka Overseas Medical Bills Raise Ethical Questions About the Health Care System

❐ Staff Reporter

The advisors to the interim government were in office for only 18 months. But during this time, the amount of bills taken from the government treasury for medical treatment abroad has become quite large. Ministers of the elected government also take medical bills, they have the legal right to do so. However, the question arises elsewhere. If those who are responsible for improving the quality of the country’s health sector go abroad for treatment, what message does it send about the country’s health system?

The question of morality and public trust surrounding the medical expenses of the interim government’s advisors abroad has now come to the fore. Although the matter has legal validity, there is controversy over it. According to the Cabinet Department, former religious affairs advisor AFM Khalid Hossain has taken the highest bill in this list. He took 81 lakh 91 thousand 488 taka.

Former Nayeb Ameer of Hefazat-e-Islam, AFM Khalid Hossain, has been undergoing treatment for heart disease in Thailand. He said that the National Heart Institute had said that there was no treatment for his heart complications in the country and that there was a risk of surgery in Bangladesh. That is why he was advised to undergo treatment in Thailand.

Khalid Hossain went to Thailand twice with the government’s approval at the end of last year and the beginning of this year. He underwent surgery there. The first time he was accompanied by a doctor. The second time, his daughter and her husband were with him. Khalid Hossain said he still has physical complications, but he cannot go again because the cost is high.

Every year, millions of Bangladeshis travel abroad for medical treatment. 1.5 to 1.7 million Bangladeshis travel to India as part of medical tourism, although this information is from before 2024. Although the situation has changed in the past, India is still the first choice for many patients for medical treatment. After India, Thailand and Singapore are the most popular destinations for medical treatment.

In the context of this reality, Khalid Hossain was asked whether the past governments have consistently failed to develop the health sector. In response, he said, “There is definitely a failure. Why have we not been able to build a good hospital even after so many years? We have not been able to build a hospital like Mount Elizabeth Hospital. Billions of taka are being looted and smuggled from banks. If there was treatment in the country, it would not have cost so much. I have also spent a lot of money on treatment. If there was treatment in the country, would anyone go abroad? This is not a pleasure trip.”

In response to a question about why he did not raise questions about the health sector in the meeting despite holding important positions in the advisory council led by Dr. Yunus, Khalid Hossain said, “Advisors or ministers cannot do everything they want. There are bureaucratic complications. As a result, it is not possible to bring about changes quickly even if there is a desire.”

Initially, it started with 16 advisors, but later a few more, including special assistants, joined. In the past 18 months, many of them have borne government bills for medical treatment abroad. The list includes Finance Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed, Foreign Affairs Advisor Towhid Hossain, Cultural Affairs Advisor Mostafa Sarwar Farooqui, and Power and Energy Advisor Fawzul Kabir Khan.

Salehuddin Ahmed, the interim government’s financial advisor, received 79 lakh 38 thousand 229 taka for medical treatment abroad, which is the second highest. He was the governor of Bangladesh Bank from 2005 to 2009.

Regarding seeking treatment abroad, Salehuddin Ahmed said, “I performed my duties very honestly. At one stage, physical complications arose. The disease could not be diagnosed in the country. Later, I was forced to seek treatment in Singapore with the government’s approval through the appropriate process. I received treatment there three times.”

During the interim government, this advisor presented a budget of Tk 790,000 crore for the fiscal year 2025-26. Of this, Tk 41,908 crore was allocated for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Yet, millions of Bangladeshis have to go abroad for medical treatment every year.

After Khalid Hossain and Salehuddin Ahmed, Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain has the third highest bill for medical treatment abroad. He has charged 870,744 taka. Cultural Affairs Advisor Mustafa Sarwar Farooqui has charged 715,649 taka.

Electricity advisor Fawzul Kabir Khan received 5 lakh 39 thousand 935 taka. Land advisor Hasan Arif received 2 lakh 67 thousand 216 taka. Education advisor Dr. M Aminul Islam received 2 lakh 35 thousand 729 taka. Food advisor Ali Imam Majumder received 1 lakh 70 thousand 134 taka.

Apart from this, Planning Advisor Wahid Uddin Mahmud received 67 thousand 367 taka. Industry Advisor Adilur Rahman Khan received 31 thousand 52 taka. Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor Dr. Anisuzzaman received 21 thousand 800 taka. State Minister-rank Advisor Sheikh Moinuddin received 4 thousand 160 taka for medical treatment.