Staff Reporter

After a long wait, the inter-departmental patient admission process has finally begun with the official inauguration of Kushtia Medical College Hospital. On Monday at 11:30 am, Additional Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services Md. Rizwanur Rahman inaugurated the patient admission in the Medicine and Children’s Department.

Present at the time were Kushtia Medical College Hospital Director Dr. Md. Anwarul Kabir, Deputy Director Dr. H, M Anwarul Islam. Also present were Kushtia Medical College Principal Dr. Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman Khan, Head of the Department of Medicine and Associate Professor Akramuzzaman Mintu, and others.

However, although the admission process of the two departments has partially started, the emergency department of the hospital is not being operated for the time being. The hospital authorities could not give a proper answer regarding when the other departments can be operated and when the diagnostic equipment will start operating.

The authorities said that initially a maximum of 45 patients will be admitted in the Medicine Department and a maximum of 45 patients in the Children’s Department.

Local service seekers said that for many years, new dates have been set for the hospital’s activities, but so far, full services have not been provided. They demand that the hospital’s activities should be started in a full-fledged manner very soon.

According to the Medical College Hospital sources, there are currently 68 doctors including specialists in the hospital. There are 39 nurses. Out of these, 19 are employed by the hospital, 20 have been taken from Kushtia General Hospital and the Civil Surgeon’s Office. In addition, 36 Ansar members have been kept for security. Third and fourth class employees have also been kept.

On Sunday afternoon, a woman named Rawshan Ara (33), a resident of Bakhoi village in Kumarkhali upazila, was admitted to the medicine department. Apart from this, patients were also admitted to the children’s ward. In total, 19 patients have been admitted to the medicine ward and 22 to the children’s ward. The authorities have said that patients will be admitted to both wards in the hospital for the time being. A maximum of 45 patients will be admitted to the medicine department and a maximum of 45 patients to the children’s department.

Hospital sources also informed that the hospital’s emergency department is not being operated for the time being. In order to be admitted, patients will be admitted with referral from Kushtia General Hospital or with urgent permission from the outpatient department of Medical College Hospital or with the advice of doctors from a private institution. Arrangements have also been made for oxygen support, some medicines and necessary tests for the patients admitted to the hospital.

Kushtia General Hospital sources informed that if any patients from the medicine and children’s departments have to be referred from the hospital, they will be sent to Kushtia Medical College Hospital.

According to sources from the Public Works Office, the Kushtia Medical College and Hospital construction project was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in the 2012-13 fiscal year at an estimated cost of Tk 275 crore. The construction of the project began on 20 acres of land in Kalishankarpur Mouza of Kushtia city. 52 contractors in 53 packages worked on the project at different times. Although the work was supposed to be completed by December 2016, it was not completed. At that time, due to allegations of irregularities and corruption, the work was stopped due to various complications until 2018. In the first phase, the work period was extended until December 2019. The construction cost increased to Tk 611 crore. But even then, the contractors could not complete the work. In the second phase, the period was extended until October 5, 2021. This time, the cost increased to Tk 682 crore, which is Tk 407 crore more than the initial cost. Since the work was not completed even in that period, the work was extended for the third time to December 31, 2023.

According to sources at Kushtia Medical College Hospital, the seven-story building has 500 beds, as well as 88 cabins, a 23-bed CCU, and a 20-bed ICU. In addition, there is a separate provision for 130 beds to provide emergency services. Meanwhile, equipment and furniture worth at least Tk 90 crore were purchased for the hospital in June of the 2022-23 fiscal year, which are currently lying inside the hospital building. These equipment include state-of-the-art MRI machines, CT scans, X-ray machines, ultrasonogram machines, and various types of equipment used in the operating room. There are allegations that irregularities and corruption have been committed in the purchase of these equipment. The ACC is investigating the purchase documents.