Boxed Medical Equipment: Probe why they’re not being used

The High Court yesterday ordered the health ministry to conduct an inquiry into allegations that 28 emergency medical equipment have been kept in boxes for years.

The court also asked the authorities to submit the probe report in 60 days.

The HC issued a rule asking the authorities concerned of the 16 hospitals, where the boxes are kept, to explain in four weeks why their negligence to this effect should not be declared illegal.

The bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman came up with the order and rule following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Manoj Kumar Bhowmick seeking necessary directives.

The lawyer submitted the petition as public interest litigation to the HC recently, based on a report published by Bangla daily Prothom Alo on August 24 this year.

In the report, the Bangla daily mentioned that 28 emergency machines remain unopened in boxes at 16 hospitals, some remaining in crates for the last 17 years.

The equipment includes X-ray machines, ultrasonogram (USG) and ECG machines and ventilators.

Some of those have already become dysfunctional as they remained idle for long while some are on the verge of ruin, the report said.

The authorities of most of the hospitals said lack of manpower was the main reason for keeping the machines still packed, while in some cases the machines could not be installed because of lack of technical assistance from the health department.