Staff Reporter :
Acute shortage of beds and their allotment irregularities is reportedly affecting the country’s only medical university-BSMMU-causing immense suffering to the patients.
The patients and their family members alleged that the seat allotting systems are illegally controlled by officials and employees of different sections of the hospital.
“My uncle is seriously sick with brain stroke. We are seeking a seat there (BSMMU) for his better treatment. We are looking for a seat anywhere in the hospital, including cabin, for about a week we did not get,” said a nephew of a patient who came from Daudkandi of Comilla.
As no seat was available at BSMMU, he said they have been compelled to take his uncle Ali Arshad to a nearby private hospital. But that private hospital’s seat rent and other charges are very high. So, they are still trying their best to have a seat at BSMMU.
Another cancer patient came from Tangail has also been searching a seat for the last six days. One of his son said, every day they used to come to the BSMMU hospital for a seat but went back with deep disappointment.
“My father is fighting with cancer. It came to know just some days ago. From then we are trying to get a seat in this hospital. But the authorities did not allot us,” he said and alleged that some of patients came after them but got seats with unethical understanding with some officials and employees.
The patients and their relatives also alleged that some of the employees of the hospital are trying to push them to other private hospitals. They (employees) told them that the private hospital is better for their proper treatment.
One patient said the date of his tumor operation is near to end but he is not getting any seat yet. He and his family members are anxious with the tumor, if it is turned into cancer. Some other patients and their relatives also alleged that a section of employees involved themselves with the process of seat allotment. They include pathologists, different kind of technicians and nurses.
During a visit to the BSMMU hospital, this correspondent found that many patients have been waiting long days to get a seat there for treatment of different types of illness such as breast tumor, kidney failures and operations for different physical disorders.
The relevant officials often gave seal “Sorry, there is no seat vacant, try later” on their prescriptions where the doctors recommended for taking admission.
“If any patient fulfilled their demand, he gets the seat. In anyone fails, then his application for the seat allotment would be delayed day by day,” alleged one of the patient’s relative who came from Barisal.
BSMMU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kamrul Hasan Khan told The New Nation that, “There are only 1500 seat here in the hospital. But lots of patients come here every day from different districts. We have limitation to allot seat to all.”
“If any employee of the hospital is found involved in any unethical negotiation with patients about seat allotment, he must be punished,” the VC added.
The VC said that they are planning to reduce seat crisis by taking various measures like adding general emergency unit, increasing outdoor operation theatres etc.
