Patients overrun CMCH cardiology ward

The cardiology ward at the Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) is facing difficulties in coping with the number of patients due to a shortage of beds, equipment and staff.

The 60-bed ward on the first floor of the hospital building has to accommodate an average of 350 patients a day, making it difficult for the nine physicians on duty to treat patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

This is the only specialised cardiovascular disease treatment centre in a government hospital in the greater Chittagong area. Though some private clinics and hospitals in the port city provide treatment to patients with CAD, a majority of patients cannot afford the expensive procedures.

To tackle the bed crisis, an extension of the ward was opened earlier this month on the fourth floor of the hospital building with 64 beds. However, the gap is still so much that patients are seen on the floor and in the corridors outside the ward, leading to sleep deprivation and minimal privacy.

Dr Prabir Kumar Das, an associate professor and head of the ward, said, “The cardiology ward remains very busy. The situation is worse as there is a shortage of staff and testing equipment.”

There are only nine physicians currently working at the ward, he added. “We have one associate professor and two assistant professors; the rest are either associated with other wards or working as officer on special duty. There are no posts for a professor or medical officers.”

“Despite this, it is the lone, trusted place for patients; they are happy with the treatment and the behaviour of the doctors and nurses.”

Das said the ward also has a shortage of equipment. “The exercise treadmill test (ETT) machine is out of order for two years now. At present, we have one echocardiography machine but we need two more, along with two more electrocardiogram (ECG) machines,” he said.

“The lack of available inpatient beds and equipment remains a major impediment to the delivery of good health care,” said Das. “The ward ideally needs two professors, four associate professors and six assistant professors.”

“I recently wrote to the health ministry to create a post for at least one professor,” he said.

With the ward extension being on a separate floor, and the coronary care unit (CCU), a place for critical patients, and testing equipment all on the main floor, it is time consuming to transfer patients from one floor to another, said hospital staff.

The presence of medical representatives has also become a matter of worry in the already overcrowded wards.

According to CMCH rules, medical representatives are allowed to visit the wards on Sundays and Wednesdays, between 1:00pm and 2:00pm.

However, in the last week of February, it was seen that medical representatives were intruding into the CCU in the evenings as well. They were taking pictures of patients' prescriptions with their smart phones.

Jakir Hossain, a patient attendant, said it was annoying that at least four medical representatives insisted that he purchase their brand of pacemakers for his father, who was admitted to the ward.

“My father had to stay on floor for the first three days of his weeklong stay, as there was no vacancy at the ward.” Hossain later went for the pacemaker brand that the doctor recommended.

Shuvechchha Ghosh brought her father Kajal Kanti Ghosh to the hospital after he complained of chest pains last week. “My father's health deteriorated twice on the first night, but the doctors promptly gave the necessary treatment and saved his life,” she said.

Abdul Hai, who is in his mid 80s, came from Lakhkhipur area when he felt unwell. He suffered from a second heart attack.

“Whenever I feel unwell, I inform the doctors and they immediately give me the treatment to make me feel better,” he said.

Another patient, Taposh Barua, said the doctors are cordial and polite but not the other staff.

CMCH Director Brig Gen Md Jalal Uddin said they are preparing a proposal to update the organogram of the hospital and create more posts.

In regards to equipment at the cardiology ward, he said in the context of Bangladesh, the ward is delivering better treatment to patients and the existing equipment is sufficient to deliver quality services.

“We have already floated a tender to purchase an ETT machine. We will also purchase a Colour Doppler Machine,” he said.

On the shortage of beds, Jalal Uddin said, “Chittagong city in fact needs a specialised 350-bed heart hospital to cope with the increasing number of patients.”