Cost Tk 2cr, service zero
It is essentially a classic example of putting the cart before the horse.
The authorities of Pabna general hospital first spent around Tk 2 crore for setting up a CT scan (computed tomography scan) machine and a power substation for it. Then they realised that the machine runs on 440 volts of power supply, which is not even available at the hospital premises.
About 10 months went by since the setup was complete and a technician was appointed to operate the scanner. But after all the money spent, not a single patient has so far been able to get any CT scan done at this major public hospital in Pabna.
Dr Aiyub Hossaini, assistant director of General Hospital, Pabna, said the equipment sits idle as the Public Works Department (PWD) did not pay heed to their repeated requests of installing a 440-volt power line for it.
However, Anwarul Azim, executive engineer of PWD in Pabna, claimed that the local power supply company, Northern Electricity Supply Company (Nesco), did not install the new power line despite getting required payment from PWD.
Caught in the middle of red tape and blame game, relatives of critical patients of the hospital are often compelled to take the ultimate risk by transporting patients to different medical facilities for urgent CT scans.
Rizvi Joy, a resident of Kishtopur area in Pabna town, said when the doctors at Pabna general hospital ordered an urgent CT scan for his uncle after his condition suddenly turned critical, they had to spend crucial time in locating a private hospital with a CT scanning machine and transporting him there.
But after they finally managed to take his uncle to that hospital, he lasted only several hours, he lamented.
The expensive piece of equipment has so far been kept functional by routinely charging up its auxiliary power batteries, said its technician Shahidul Islam.
On Sunday night, when this correspondent asked about the status of the new 440-volt line installation, Nesco Executive Engineer Mahbubul Haque said they already gathered the necessary materials and accessories for the connection at the hospital site and the actual work would start any day this week.
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