Chittagong University (CU) medical centre.Photo: STAR

The students of Chittagong University (CU) are being deprived of healthcare services as its only medical centre is beset with various problems including shortage of doctors, medicines and equipment.
The medical centre set up in 1967 is unable to give first aid properly. Only eight doctors serve in the medical centre in three shifts daily. Five of them work in the first shift from 8:00am to 2:00pm, two in second shift from 2:00pm to 9:00pm and one doctor works in third shift from 9:00pm to 8:00am.
Two ambulances, out of four, now operate as the condition of two others is very bad.
Over 200 patients including students, teachers and staff go to CU medical centre daily for treatment which has no capacity to provide services to the serious ones for lack of lab facilities. There is no facility of medical test except blood pressure and fever, depriving the students of proper healthcare facilities.
Inadequate number of doctors as well as medicine force the patients with critical diseases or injuries to go to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for treatment. As the university is situated 22 kilometres away from the port city, it takes more than one and a half hours to reach CMCH, leaving patients frequently dead for lack of treatment in time.
Md Arif, a fourth class employee, died on the way to CMCH in 2007 due to excessive bleeding after being stabbed by miscreants on the campus. Such unexpected death could be avoided if necessary medical facilities were available at CU medical centre.
Md Asaduzzaman, a second year student of Accounting and Information Systems department, succumbed to his stab injuries at CMCH due to over bleeding as it took too much time to take him to the hospital. Asad was stabbed by the local villagers on the CU campus.
Sheikh Masud Ahmed, a master's student of Islamic History, said CU medical centre cannot even provide primary medication properly as it is in a bad shape. The medical centre cannot even provide oral saline most of the time, he added.
Abu Bakkor Siddique, a student of philosophy department, said the students are being deprived of healthcare services as the university's only medical centre limps. The CU authorities should upgrade the medical centre to a complete hospital considering the greater interest of the students as the university is far away from the city, he said.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Md Tofazzal Hossain said there is no indoor treatment facilities at the medical centre and only primary medication is given here.
Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mohammad Alauddin said to increase medical facilities, they need a minimum of Tk 30 lakh but do not have adequate fund.
Dr Alauddin said they have sought help from government repeatedly to upgrade the medical centre. But the government does not pay heed to it, he said.
He said mismanagement as well as negligence of doctors is also responsible for miserable condition of the medical centre.