Editorial
DMCH recruitment
Policy and principle ripped to shreds
The trouble that has cropped up at Dhaka Medical College Hospital over appointment of 243 class three and class four employees gives a dismal account of how administrative matters are being handled at the country's premier government-run hospital. A large number of candidates, who had allegedly bribed health ministry officials and union leaders, are planning to agitate after their names did not appear on the final list of appointees. It seems they believe that their claim to have a job is perfectly legitimate, no matter what they did to gratify the decision makers. The apparent unmasking of the foul play has also brought to light some obvious flaws in the recruitment process. Perhaps most government organisations have such aberrations, but a corrupt recruitment system can spell disaster for a hospital where quality of work is very important. If the allegations are found to be correct, those who have managed to find a place in the final list through palm-greasing with a bigger amount of money, or having a stronger connection, are unlikely to be competent workers in a service-oriented organisation. It is evident that even if the hospital has any recruitment policy, it means nothing in practice. The extent of the corruption is made clear by the allegation that the answer scripts of some candidates were filled up outside the examination hall by their promoters. Clearly, nepotism and favouritism have become the basis for recruitment with money playing its sinister role in eliminating the deserving candidates. Little wander, the quality of government-run hospital services is going down. It also explains why the patients cannot get anything done without gratifying the hospital staff. Corruption has an all-pervasive influence, and it is the people in general who have to bear the brunt of it all in the ultimate analysis. The health ministry and the hospital authorities must look into the matter and put in place a recruitment system not susceptible to corruption on such a scale. In other words, attempts should be made to minimise the clout of the union leaders, corrupt employees and other vested interest groups.
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