The hospital gives easy access for patients from Jinjira, Keraniganj, Jatrabari, Demra and remote regions on the other side of River Buriganga. As an oldest city hospital though it has facilities for indoor, out-door and emergency treatment, it is not properly functioning now in absence of disciplined management where physicians are most irregular. Many come in late morning. The important fact is that most physicians in the hospital is enjoying posting in the hospital as close relatives of senior government leaders and bureaucrats. Other staff are highly politicized who don’t bother at least for accountability to any quarter. Patients waiting for operation remain uncertain of a date despite suffering from intolerable condition. Patients said doctors just come and go, they do not listen to their problems.
When the government is claiming big success in health care facilities in the country, even one of the biggest city hospitals is in total disorder. The situation in other government hospitals is not better either. The government hospitals have a key role when it comes to fulfil the Vision 2021 in the health sector. But what is most tragic is that vested interest quarters are eating up huge hospital budget to procure penalized equipment and other state-of-the-art technology for treatment. Hospitals are becoming sick while these people are becoming rich. In fact they don’t take treatment in the country.
It is also tragic that fund for buying medicine for basic emergency treatment and cleaning materials is also stolen away and there is none to plug the holes. Treatment for the poor and middle-income people has become almost an illusion in public hospitals leaving them to their own fate. Patients prescribed for operation remain uncertain about the operation date. The hospital staff closes its outdoor ticket sale for patients earlier disappointing many who come late for outdoor services.
We must say Mitford Hospital has a long history of serving the people and it can’t be destroyed this way. Urgent attention must be given to restore discipline in the hospital.
