Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) ranks second in bed capacity among the country’s medical college hospitals, with 2,200 beds. However, it experiences the highest patient pressure. The hospital consistently accommodates patients at 1.5 times its capacity on average. The outpatient and emergency departments also see more patients compared to other government medical college hospitals.
The hospital serves as a primary healthcare provider for Chattogram and the greater Chattogram Hill Tracts, which has steadily increased reliance on its services. Due to the absence of other specialized or government medical college hospitals in the Chattogram metropolitan area, patient pressure here is significantly higher. Healthcare professionals believe that establishing more specialized hospitals in Chattogram and improving healthcare facilities in the hill districts could alleviate this burden and enhance service quality.
According to the Health Bulletin 2023 published by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), CMCH’s outpatient department served 1,090,045 patients last year, while 355,399 patients were treated in its emergency department. A total of 270,299 patients were admitted to the hospital. This means that the bed occupancy rate of the hospital was at 139.6 percent, indicating that the hospital accommodates patients at an average of nearly 1.5 times its bed capacity.
Doctors at CMCH report that being the sole government medical college hospital in Chattogram leads to continuous high patient pressure. Sometimes, up to 20-25 patients have to be managed per bed. Due to space constraints, many patients are treated on the floor, even post-C-section, putting them at risk of infection.
Dr. Towhidul Alam, Associate Professor in the Endocrinology Department at CMCH, told Bonik Barta, “There are no specialized hospitals in Chattogram district. As a result, all patients come to this hospital. However, there is a lot of unused space here that could be utilized effectively. Many private hospitals do not see expected patient influx. All patients are admitted here (CMCH). Much of the nearby area in the city also remain underutilized. If these spaces were repurposed for healthcare, it could ease the pressure on CMCH. There are no other specialized hospitals in the Chattogram division. Taking effective steps in this regard is an urgent necessity.”
According to relevant sources, Chittagong Medical College Hospital was established in 1957. Its name was later changed to Chattogram Medical College Hospital after 2018. It is the second-largest medical institution and hospital in the country. Spanning over an area of 72.42 acres, the hospital’s capacity was upgraded to 2,200 beds in 2022.
Dr. Ajit Kumar Ghosh, Assistant Professor in the Dermatology Department, added, “In Dhaka, there are several institutes, such as specialized hospitals for kidney, ENT, cancer, and eye treatments. There are separate hospitals for different types of diseases, including a neuroscience hospital. However, in Chattogram and its surrounding areas, there are no specialized hospitals. As a result, locals rely heavily on this hospital for specialized treatments. This is our biggest issue that there are no specialized hospitals here. Even though there is a hospital for dermatology, it has not been developed into a fully specialized institute. Since these specialized institutes are lacking and Chattogram is a large city, the pressure on us is comparatively higher.”
He further stated, “I believe that as the second-largest city in the country, Chattogram should have some specialized hospitals. If this were implemented, the patient load would ease to some extent. Another issue is that while many medical colleges are being established in smaller towns, Chattogram has only one medical college hospital. Currently, Dhaka has four government medical college hospitals, along with many other institutes. If Chattogram had a second medical college hospital, people would have options to decide where to go. The main challenge for government-run hospitals is the overwhelming patient load. Patients often complain about not getting beds or proper sanitation facilities, forcing them to endure inhumane conditions. Sometimes, three to four children share a single bed. Under these circumstances, there is no alternative but to increase healthcare facilities. It is crucial to establish more institutes and medical college hospitals here. If a second medical college hospital is built, there will be no shortage of teachers, and students will also be available.”
Professor Dr. Md Abu Jafor, Director General of DGHS, shared with Bonik Barta, “Besides the Chattogram Medical College Hospital, two more hospitals are under development in Chattogram. One is a 150-bed Burn Institute being built jointly by the governments of Bangladesh and China. Its plan has been approved by ECNEC, and work will begin once funds are released. A Chinese expert team is already in Chattogram. This facility will feature ICUs and HDUs. Additionally, a 450-bed hospital specializing in cancer, kidney, and cardiac care is being established. A 14-story building has already been constructed, with staffing and equipment procurement pending.”