Health is critical to the well- being of a person, and it is a basic human right. It also makes an important contribution to economic progress, as healthy populations live longer, are more productive, and save more.
The existing healthcare systems cannot provide full protection to RMG workers because there is a large-scale shortage of qualified healthcare providers in Bangladesh. For instance, the nurse to population ratio is 1:7788 and the doctor to population ratio is 1:4645
It would be nearly impossible to produce a sufficient number of public- and private-sector healthcare providers in the short term. The long working hours of many workers also constrain them from availing external health services during normal operating hours.
Within this context, to bridge some of these gaps and efficiently link RMG sector workers, especially women, to the health products and services that they need, Jinnat Knitwears Limited, a sister concern of DBL has set full-fledged clinic within its factory premises.
The clinic provides basic healthcare facilities to garment workers and their families. The garment workers get healthcare services and medicines free of cost. The hospital also offers indoor and outdoor treatment, pathology and specialized treatment facilities, and ambulance service to the workers.
At the pathology of the clinic, workers can do all the basics pathological tests and the reports of which are given within a day. The clinic provides regular heath check up facilities for the expectant workers, while its doctors conduct awareness programs to them on how to take care of a pregnant woman, what are dos and don’ts.
The workers also can bring their newborn children as well as infants to the clinic for treatment. If needed, the doctors of the clinic referred the patients to nearby government hospitals for higher treatment.
Jinnat Knitwears Ltd by providing healthcare facilities by its in-house clinic aims to help the workers to avoid the hassle of public hospitals and exorbitant charges of private hospitals.
