Rangamati Sadar Hospital: Patients cry in dilapidated building, new building worth Tk 30 crore is unused

Rangamati General Hospital, the only haven for advanced medical services in Rangamati district, is suffering from terrible mismanagement. With an average of almost double the number of patients admitted every day, the hospital is facing a severe bed crisis. Patients and their relatives who come for treatment are suffering. Established in 1984 in Rangamati city, this hospital initially had 50 beds, but later it was upgraded to 100 beds, but the infrastructure and quality of service remain the same. Currently, more than 200 patients are admitted here every day, many of whom do not get any bed space. Patients are forced to receive treatment on the floor and corridors. The construction of the new 150-bed building built at a cost of Tk 30 crore next to the old building of the hospital has been completed but has not yet been opened. The pressure on medical services has increased further as this building, which has been closed for a long time, has not been opened. If it had been opened, the problems of the patients would have been solved to a large extent. Describing the plight of patients seeking treatment, Shahadat Hossain said, “I brought my mother to the hospital because she was sick. She has been lying on the floor for four days. This situation has arisen due to lack of beds. I don’t know when beds will be available.” Amar Jyoti Chakma expressed his anger and said, “What a pitiful condition the district hospital is in! Patients are lying on the floor. Far from recovering, we are afraid of contracting another disease. And why is the new building built next door not being commissioned, we don’t think about it. If it is not being used, then why was it built at the expense of state money?” Dr. Shawkat Akbar, resident chief of Rangamati General Hospital, said, “Our hospital basically has 50 beds.” Although it was upgraded to 100 beds in 1984, we are still at the 50-bed level in terms of infrastructure and equipment. After the establishment of the medical college, the pressure on patients has increased manifold. Patients are coming not only from Rangamati but also from Raojan and Rangunia in neighboring districts of Chittagong. We are not able to provide space in the corridor, but we are trying to provide the best service to the patients.’ Rangamati District Civil Surgeon Dr. Nuen Khisa said, ‘A new building will be opened very soon to ensure improved medical services for the people of Rangamati district. Once the new building is opened, this limitation of the hospital will be removed.’ About 6.5 lakh people from 10 upazilas of Rangamati depend on this one general hospital. Questions have been raised at all levels about not opening the new building despite such a deplorable condition of medical services. Just as patients are facing difficulties, government management is also being questioned.