Gopalganj hospital ICU not made functional in four years

GOPALGANJ, June 09: The ICU unit of Gopalganj's 250-bed General Hospital has remained non-operational for the past four years. This hospital is the only medical facility serving the 1.8 million residents of Gopalganj district.

It is alleged that the previous Awami League government purchased a large quantity of modern medical equipment for the hospital, spending billions of taka, amid irregularities and corruption.

Over the years, much of this equipment has been neglected and is now in a useless condition. Meanwhile, the MRI machine, valued at Tk 200 million, has been out of service for a long time, depriving poor patients in the area of proper medical care. The city scan machine is in a similar state.

Currently, the hospital has only 32 working doctors, while 66 are required to operate effectively. Most doctors provide services at their private clinics instead of the hospital. Additionally, brokers often roam the hospital premises, persuading patients to visit private clinics.

Abul Bashir Sheikh, 70, a patient, told this correspondent, "I was admitted a few days ago, but I am not receiving proper treatment at the hospital. I have to buy all medicines from outside. In this situation, I will leave this hospital within a day or two."

Dr. Jibitas Biswas, Deputy Director, said the ICU unit and MRI machine cannot function due to the lack of expert physicians and necessary staff. "We have already informed higher authorities to take necessary action," he added.

Local residents are urging the authorities to take immediate steps to resolve these issues in the interest of underprivileged patients in the region.

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