Dhaka, Oct. 15 -- The wards look cleaner, staff appear busier and hospital corridors seem better organised. Then, within days of a surprise inspection by the health minister, the familiar disorder returns.

The pattern raises a difficult question: can sudden inspections improve healthcare, or do they merely offer a fleeting impression of reform?

Since taking office in February, Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain has made unannounced visits to at least 30 hospitals, inspecting everything from wards and pharmacies to kitchens.

He has ordered transfers, dismissed staff and publicly expressed anger over lapses. Videos of the visits have circulated widely on social media, drawing both praise and criticism.

To assess what remains afte...