DMCH reels under Hajj pilgrims' rush for health tests

Bangladeshi pilgrims intending to perform the Holy Hajj this year have been suffering a lot undergoing pre-Hajj health screening that is scheduled to be completed today (Sunday).

This year, the Government of Bangladesh has instructed the pilgrims to complete their necessary medical tests in government hospitals only. Until last year, pilgrims were allowed to do the test at government-approved private hospitals and diagnostic centres. Directorate of Health used to recommend a number of private diagnostic centres.

When contacted, Md Lokman Hossain, Director, Hajj Office, Dhaka told FE that the decision to complete medical tests from the government hospitals only had been taken to avoid any falsification in medical test. "This year, the government of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) issued strict instruction on medical test and fitness of the pilgrims," he added.

Due to the government restrictions, pilgrims have rushed to government hospitals where they have suffered immensely due to inadequate facilities. This correspondent visited a few hospitals and talked with a number of pilgrims in last four days.

Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) dedicated the basement of the emergency department of the old building to provide medical test services for the pilgrims. On Wednesday a large number of pilgrims went there and waited hour after hour to conduct all the tests.

Visiting the DMCH again on Thursday, this correspondent found that the authority deployed additional support staffers to help the pilgrims. Nevertheless, collection of reports became troublesome for many as those who completed ECG and X-ray after 1:00pm had to wait for two more days to get these reports.

Pilgrims are required to do blood and urine tests, along with ECG and chest X-ray. After giving samples of blood and urine and completing ECG at the dedicated DMCH basement, they have to go to X-ray department at the new building. After doing the X-ray, they also have to submit the film to the old building X-ray department for preparing reports. Thus, a pilgrim has to spend almost the whole day to do the tests.

On Saturday, DMCH Director Brigadier General Md Asaduzzaman told FE that they had tried to provide one-stop service for the pilgrims. He, however, added that as it was not possible to relocate X-ray setup to the basement, pilgrims had to go to the department.

"Though different government hospitals are providing pre-Hajj heath test services, we are facing a big rush, however," he added.

Pressure of pilgrims also disrupted patient services for X-rays in DMCH. Again, a number of pilgrims came from Narayanganj to do the X-ray in DMCH as the X-ray technician was not available on Wednesday last.

"Other patients of Victoria Hospital (Narayanganj General Hospital) went to Khanpoor Hospital or other diagnostic centres," said an intended pilgrim who came from Narayanganj. "As pre-Hajj medical test is obligatory in government hospitals, they referred us to DMCH."

Pilgrims who went to Mugda Medical College and Hospital for heath check-up also faced similar sufferings.

As some government hospitals in Dhaka refused to conduct the tests, the sufferings of the pilgrims increased. A number of

I SEE PAGE 7 COL 1