CMCH restricts entry of visitors

Internationally reputed dance artiste TanuShree Shanker and her group enthralled the audiences at a function at the Muslim Institute auditorium on Tuesday. Indian High Commission organised the event titled, "Natun Juger Nach" (Dance of modern age). Photo: Star

Free-style entry of visitors and medical representatives into the hospital during office hours caused various problems that forced the authorities to continue the drive for the past one month, sources said.

A contingent of about 60 private security men have been engaged on the premises to check the entry of visitors in large scale and introduced 'pass system'. Over Tk one lakh is being spent against the private security arrangements.

The hospital authorities hired the private security men to cope with the situation as it has only 20 security guards, sources said. Some of them had already retired, but were not replaced, sources added. The CMCH needs over 100 security guards to manage it.

On an average, about 20,000 attendants visit the hospital daily to see the patients. As a result, the six- storied hospital always remained crowded with the visitors, witnesses said.

Now the visitors are hardly allowed to enter the CMCH premises without pass. People are scheduled to visit the patients between 4 pm and 6 pm.

Director of the CMCH, Brigadier General Tawfiqul Alam said "With the launching of drive and imposition of restriction unwanted crowd inside the hospital premises almost thinned and the hospital also was giving a better look following efforts for cleanliness".

"All posters and banners of different pharmaceutical companies and political parties pasted on the walls, gates and other places of the hospital were removed and the security guards keeping watch on it," he said.

"Nobody is allowed now to leave any waste or create nuisance on the hospital premises. I myself pay surprise visit to the hospital premises any time during day time and at night to supervise cleanliness drive," Tawfiqul Alam said.

"Moreover, we have imposed a restriction on the visit of medical representatives who had frequently called on the doctors during office hours. Now none of them is allowed to meet any doctor inside the hospital before 12 noon," he added.

" If any of them found meeting with the doctors before 12 noon, would face consequence," he said.

Sources said that a section of doctors earlier used to allow the medical representatives to meet them during office hours for receiving sample medicines and other gifts.

Such a practice often caused disturbance to services by the doctors to the patients at the hospital.

There are over 200 doctors both at the indoor and outdoor service of this hospital with 34 wards.

CMCH has the capacity of 1000 beds but it accommodates about 1500 patients, sources said. The CMCH is always overcrowded. Many patients are found flooring due to lack of beds at this second biggest hospital of the country.