Treatment abroad
"Health is wealth" is a proverb known to everybody. On the other hand wealth is required to maintain health. This becomes more visible when we see that many prominent persons of the country frequently leave for Singapore for treatment in Mount Elizabeth Hospital. A far larger number of people than what comes to the newspaper frequently go to Singapore and other countries for treatment.
They consider the treatment in foreign countries as 'sure success'. Many a time we see that patients are leaving the country in wheel chair or stretcher for treatment abroad and come back in good health in cheering mood which advertises the success of treatment abroad. Private medical facilities have recently developed in Bangladesh opening a door for Bangladeshi commoner to be able to take the advantage of this opportunity. But financially able Bangladeshis have little faith in the local medical facilities and they leave for treatment abroad.
People illegible to govt. facility for treatment are found to have the tendency to go abroad for treatment with public money. This sort of treatment expenditure should be incurred in such a way that it doesn't require any investigation by future governments in power by making further expenditure as we observe such cases are happening now. These create lack of confidence in public mind to have treatment in the country. Before going for any treatment abroad one should make sure that facilities available in the country have been availed to its maximum. Well, the rich people will go abroad for treatment. But in the process a huge amount of hard earned foreign currency is spent. Treatment abroad is like purchasing foreign service and goods. While purchasing goods and service from abroad one has to pay tax and vat as per customs and tax rules. Similarly, taxes and vat should be imposed on medical treatment abroad from where the govt. can earn revenue.
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