Staff Reporter :
Private medical colleges in Bangladesh are currently grappling with a severe shortage of students due to procedural issues, according to leaders of the Bangladesh Private Medical College Association (BPMCA).
President MA Mubin Khan highlighted that approximately 1,200 seats in private medical colleges remained vacant this year. Similar issues were faced last year as well, he added.
The BPMCA organized a discussion on Saturday to address these challenges and ensure quality in medical education.
State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Rokeya Sultana, former foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, and BPMCA General Secretary Anwer Hossain Khan were among the prominent speakers at the event.
Mubin Khan stressed the need for automation in the admission process to encourage more students to enroll in their preferred medical colleges.
He criticized the current system, stating that it prevents parents from choosing medical colleges in their own divisions or districts, which has led to decreased admissions.
“The automation system was introduced last year without proper piloting, despite strong opposition from stakeholders,” Mubin Khan said.
According to the World Health Organization, Bangladesh currently has only 5.26 doctors for every 10,000 people, which is the second lowest in the world. To address this shortage, the government allowed the establishment of medical colleges in the private sector.
Currently, Bangladesh has 37 government medical colleges with 5,380 seats. In addition, there are 67 approved private medical colleges with 6,295 seats.
Mubin Khan criticized the Health Directorate for systematic errors in the admission process, describing it as causing chaos in private medical admissions.
Dr Jamal Uddin, President of Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad (Swachip), expressed concerns over the shortage of teachers in medical colleges and the government’s policy on incentives for teaching staff.
Regarding the issue, Dr Rokeya Sultana emphasized the importance of maintaining quality in medical education and hospital management, urging for vigilance from government regulators throughout the year.
Former foreign minister Dr AKM Abdul Momen urged for an increase in competition and emphasized the need to enhance public trust in hospitals.
“The quality of doctors in our hospitals is good,” he added.
