Khulna Medical College and Hospital
Cancer unit now family quarters
Khulna Medical College Hospital cancer unit's office under lock and key. The building meant for the unit is now being used as family quarters of four hospital staff.Photo: STAR
The building meant for cancer unit of Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) is being used as family quarters of four staff while treatment seekers are hardly aware that there is a separate unit for cancer treatment in the hospital. The two medical officers, a carpenter and a peon working at KMCH have been living there with families for years with official permission of authorities concerned, hospital sources said. Former health minister late Salahuddin Yusuf played the key role in setting up the cancer treatment unit at KMCH and the building was built in 1998. The unit comprises a radiology department with an air-conditioned room for installing a machine for chemotherapy and several rooms to be used for admission of patients, as doctors' chambers and registrar's office. Cancer patient Shafiul Alam of Gutudia under Dumuria upazila of Khulna district was recently advised to go to Dhaka for better treatment as there is no machine for providing chemotherapy. Later, he was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. “No patient visited me in last two years of my posting here,” said Dr Mrinal Kanti Sarker, in-charge of the cancer unit of KMCH. The unit is understaffed and lacks equipment required for cancer treatment, said the doctor who has rich experience in treatment of the disease. KMCH Superintendent Dr Hamid Asgar, on the other hand, claimed that the unit has all facilities for cancer treatment. He, however, admitted that the unit does not have a particular machine that is required for radiotherapy and chemotherapy. “We have so far failed to get any response from the higher authorities concerned despite frequent reminders for allocation of fund for buying this very important machine,” he said.
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