"One in four RMG workers suffers from gastrointestinal problems: study"

One out of four garment workers visiting doctors suffers from gastrointestinal problems while 18.5 per cent suffer musculoskeletal and 15 per cent ENT infection and the rest from health complexity, a study revealed on Saturday.

Diabetic Association of Bangladesh conducted the study among 9,717 workers in seven readymade garments factories in Gazipur between April 24, 2014 and April 23, 2015.

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Out of the 9,717 workers, 46.6 sought medical advice in a year. About 72.2 per cent sought advice for one to five times, 20.6 per cent between 6 and 10 times and the remaining 7.2 per cent visited doctors more than 10 times.

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The speakers [at the event where the research was launched] said that if health insurance for RMG workers could be ensured they would get better services.

They emphasised the need for a collective effort for that as it would benefit workers as well as the industry.

The study found that the annual net premium paid by the factory owners was Tk 4094,504 and the total healthcare cost accrued was Tk 52,30,156 .