Hospitals Crippled by Malfunctioning Equipment!

IT is worrying that over a thousand pieces of critical diagnostic equipment are lying out of order in government hospitals across the country, including those in the capital.

Consequently, patients are compelled to turn to private hospitals and diagnostic centres for necessary tests.

Thus, those who visit government hospitals primarily in the hope of affordable medical care ultimately end up paying extra.

In such a situation, it is natural to ask: what is the justification for the state spending crores of taka on equipment that ultimately serves no purpose for the patient?

An even greater cause for concern is that once a machine breaks down, it takes months to repair.

In contrast, healthcare systems in developed nations operate differently. There, the maintenance of medical equipment is not a matter of whim.

Instead of waiting for equipment to break down, they ensure regular inspections, preventive maintenance, and timely repairs.

Biomedical engineers and trained technical personnel are also integral components of their system within hospitals.

In essence, the policy in the developed world is not merely to purchase equipment and leave it idle; rather, the primary responsibility lies in keeping it operational.

Regrettably, this is precisely where we face a major shortcoming. While state-of-the-art equipment is purchased at the cost of millions, there are no satisfactory answers regarding the effectiveness of the necessary manpower, budget, and accountability mechanisms for its maintenance.

Ninety-eight percent of the country’s government medical college hospitals and specialized institutes lack a biomedical engineering department.

Arrangements for maintenance, spare parts, training, and long-term service support must also be secured at the very time of procurement.

When a poor patient visits a government hospital for medical tests, the fact that the facility’s equipment is out of order represents more than just an administrative failure; it further complicates their access to medical treatment.

While the resolve to create a hospital free from touts is frequently voiced, and certainly praiseworthy, can the situation truly be transformed merely by apprehending these middlemen?

Above all, accountability must be established when medical equipment in government hospitals remains out of order.

A culture where equipment purchased with taxpayers’ money lies idle for years, forcing patients to seek tests elsewhere, while no one is held accountable, simply cannot continue.

We must bear in mind that a hospital is not merely a building or a collection of equipment; rather, it is an institution dedicated to saving human lives.

So, ensuring equipment operational is far more important than simply purchasing it.

It is by no means desirable for a patient, upon arriving at the doors of a government hospital, to turn back disappointed by mismanagement rather than receiving care.