Bangladesh plans to award health workers to boost morale during virus outbreak

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced a plan to award doctors, nurses and other health workers in an effort to motivate frontline responders during the coronavirus outbreak.

Hasina also announced insurances for all field workers.

The premiere made the announcement via videoconferencing with the officials of Chattogram and Sylhet divisions from her official residence Ganabhaban in Dhaka on Tuesday.

Hasina highlighted reports that private hospitals were refusing to treat general patients while lauding the commitment of government health workers who are risking their lives in the battle against the coronavirus.

“I have ordered health authorities to prepare a list of government doctors, nurses and health workers who have been providing medical care to patients since the beginning of the outbreak. I want to hand awards to those people.”

She also thanked field administration officers, law enforcement personnel, members of the Armed Forces, and others involved in the distribution of relief materials.

“I have already spoken with the finance minister and finance secretary. We have arranged an insurance package for them.”

If anyone gets infected in the course of their work, the government will foot all their medical bills, said Hasina,

“We will arrange for health insurances between Tk 500,000 and Tk 1 million for them, depending on their rank. For those who are at risk of death or if anyone dies, we will increase the insurance amount by five times.”

However, the health insurance will only be given to those who have been working since the start of the outbreak in January, she said.

“If anybody wants to start working for the incentive, the government will observe their work, at least for three months, and then make a decision.”