CoU healthcare gets just Tk102 per person annually Farhad Hossain Himu

Comilla University (CoU) has allocated just Tk7 lakh for healthcare in its 2026-27 budget, translating to an annual allocation of Tk102.54 per person, or Tk8.55 a month, for its 6,827 students, teachers, officers and employees.

The allocation accounts for only 0.084 percent of the university’s total budget of Tk83 crore 29 lakh 95 thousand for the fiscal year.

According to information from the university’s academic section, CoU currently has 6,213 students, 286 teachers and 328 officers and employees. The healthcare allocation has remained unchanged at Tk7 lakh for the past two fiscal years. It was Tk6 lakh in both 2023-24 and 2024-25 before increasing to Tk7 lakh in 2025-26.

According to the university medical centre, around 20 percent of the healthcare allocation, or Tk1.4 lakh, is spent on purchasing and repairing medical equipment. The remaining amount is used to purchase 12 types of medicines.

The medical centre also spends Tk60,000 a month on medicines and medical instruments, including a 15 percent medical tax. The centre is also operating with limited manpower. It has five doctors, but one is currently on study leave, leaving four in active service. It also has two part-time doctors, one assistant registrar, one nurse and three support staff members.

Students have complained about shortages of medicines and doctors, saying the high patient load limits the healthcare they receive at the centre.

They also said the centre’s limited supply of medicines means they often have to purchase prescribed medicines from pharmacies outside the university.

Md Bayezid Hossain, a student of the Department of Law, described healthcare as one of the most neglected sectors of the university.

“Students do not receive even the minimum level of healthcare here. Two ambulances are not enough for 6,000 students. I went to the medical centre because of a toothache. I was given only a gas-relief tablet and Ace. When someone goes to the medical centre, no medicines other than these two are available,” he said.

Naim Bhuiyan, a student of the Department of Pharmacy, said students lacked access to comprehensive healthcare services on campus.

“Comilla University’s medical centre is called the ‘Napa Centre’. Some medicines are now being supplied. However, there is no opportunity to receive comprehensive healthcare. If a student has a fever, they have to go to the city for a blood test,” he said.

He called for a mini pathology laboratory, a pharmacist and a medical technologist to strengthen the centre’s services.

Dr Mahmudul Hasan, deputy chief medical officer and head of the university’s medical centre, said the number of people depending on the facility was increasing while the supply of medicines remained insufficient.

“The number of our stakeholders is increasing day by day, and the demand for medicines is also rising. Compared to this, the supply of medicines is insufficient,” he said.

He said around 20 percent of the healthcare budget was spent on medical equipment and that the centre also had to pay a 15 percent medical tax on monthly medicine purchases.

Mahmudul said additional manpower was urgently needed.
“We have also informed the vice-chancellor that improving the healthcare system requires additional manpower alongside infrastructure development,” he said.

He said the centre needed a resident doctor to provide primary treatment, particularly on Fridays and Saturdays when the university remains closed, as well as a pharmacist and a cleaner.

He also said a mini pathology laboratory would help detect diseases such as dengue more quickly.
“We expect to launch a mini operation theatre within the next few days. We will be able to provide primary treatments there. Everything is ready, and we can begin operations as soon as we receive the designated room,” he said.

University Treasurer Professor Dr Mohammad Belal Uddin said the university was seeking additional funding from the government.

“We are seeking additional budgetary allocation from the government. If we receive a larger budget, we will be able to increase the allocation for healthcare as well,” he said.

He added that rising medicine prices had also increased the funding pressure on the university.
“Medicine prices have increased. We now have to pay more to purchase the same quantity of medicines. As a result, a funding shortfall remains,” he said.