CU medical centre badly needs treatment
Mahabuba Jahan Rumi is a second year student of Public Administration Department of Chittagong University. Couple of months back, she felt a sudden chest pain and worried went to the lone university medical centre for a check-up.
But without any medical test, the on-duty doctor provided her Napa tablets, she told The Daily Star.
Fortunately for her, she went to a city hospital and took proper treatment on time, as she found out she had nerve related problems.
Rubaiyat Rafi, a third-year student of philosophy department was not even that lucky. “I went to the centre for an oral saline, as I was feeling weak. But the centre did not have it,” he said.
The medical centre at CU is limping due to shortage of doctors, adequate medicines and equipment for a long time, depriving the students and teachers of healthcare services.
Every day around 200 patients turn up with different physical ailments, but it has no capacity to provide services to the serious patients for lacking lab facilities, said CU Chief Medical Officer Dr Kazi Mohammad Saifullah.
Except for measuring blood pressure and fever, they have no facilities for other tests, he said, adding, “Hence the student was given a pain killer tablet there.”
The medical centre was set up in 1967. But dearth of manpower and equipment have made it difficult for the centre to give first aid properly, complained students and teachers.
Currently, only seven out of 11 doctors are serving three shifts a day. Three other doctors, temporarily appointed, work part-time, Saifullah said.
"To run a medical centre properly, it requires to have at least 15 to 20 doctors," said Prof Selim Mohammad Jahangir, principal of Chittagong Medical College and Hospital.
Upon visiting the medical centre, this correspondent found it to be in a dilapidated condition, with no operation or lab facilities, and only two oxygen support machines. Two ambulances, out of four, are operational, as the centre has two drivers.
A senior teacher of the university, who visited the medical centre two weeks ago, alleged that there was no diagnostic facility for them except for urine and blood tests.
Patients with critical illnesses or injuries are forced to go to CMCH, some 22 kilometres from the university, which takes more than one and a half hour.
Mohammad Arif, class-IV employee, died on the way to CMCH in 2007, due to excessive bleeding after being stabbed by miscreants on the campus.
Couple of years back, Asaduzzaman, a second year student of Accounting and Information Systems department, succumbed to his stab injuries at CMCH as it took too much time to take him to the hospital.
"Such unexpected deaths might have been avoided if necessary facilities were available," viewed a doctor of the centre, seeking anonymity.
The chief medical officer said they repeatedly informed the higher authorities about the crisis but they did not take any steps.
"We need at least Tk 25 to 30 lakh to run the medical centre smoothly," Saifullah said.
Around six months ago, the university authorities formed a committee to find out the problems and ways to develop the medical centre.
Prof Benu Kumar Dey, co-chair of CU medical centre adviser's committee, said he submitted a report with 22 recommendations including computerising the medical centre, upgrading security and availability of better equipment.
He also admitted there was a financial crisis. The committee in its report also said mismanagement and negligence are the main reasons behind the miserable condition, said university sources.
“I have heard about this allegation. Maybe at times doctors may not look after a patient properly, but I have spoken to them extensively regarding this issue, it's not a problem anymore,” said Saifullah.
CU Vice-Chancellor Prof Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury said they have talked to the University Grants Commission about the crisis.
"They have assured us of considering increasing the fund in the next budget," he told The Daily Star.
The VC also sought the government's help to upgrade the medical centre.