Braving the opposition's blockade, an ill Bikash Dutta came to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) from Chittagong's Rangunia upazila on Sunday but his treatment was deferred due to a power outage in the Clinical Pathology Department since 9:00am.
Like the barber, over 100 outdoor and indoor patients also could not access tests at the department, housed in a newly-constructed building, till electricity returned around 5:30pm, said the lab sources.
Similarly, around 90 more patients could not get tests done in Chittagong Medical College's pathology department in another academic building while class lectures faced disruptions.
Power Development Board, Chittagong officials said the electricity was disconnected due to renovations on the cables and the CMCH director had been informed beforehand.
Clinical Pathology Department In-charge Dr Bidhan Chandra Sengupta underscored the need for either a powerful generator or solar panels for the new building so that emergency services can be provided.
“There is also an operation theatre here that cannot be used during power cuts,” he said.
CMCH Deputy Director Dr Sheikh Shahabuddin Ahmed said, “We are thinking about installing a generator there.”
He said power was supplied to the emergency unit and the central operation theatres in the old building from a central generator.
Students and teachers also stressed installing a generator in the academic building.
CMC Principal Prof Dr Selim Mohammad Jahangir said he had written to the health ministry for a generator and related manpower several months ago but to no avail.