MRI Tests IN DMCH: Patients suffer as services on hold for 8 months

Akhter Hossain, a patient at Dhaka Medical College Hospital's neurology department, had to seek Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) test services from a private facility for Tk 10,500.

"A MRI test at DMCH would cost Tk 3,000-3,500, but we had to pay almost three times the price. We also had to hire an ambulance to transport my father which added to the expenses. While we are already struggling to make ends meet, such expenses only add to our burdens," said Akhter's elder son Sattar Bhuiyan.

MRI services at DMCH has been on hold for the past eight months, leading to the sufferings of patients, especially from lower-and middle-income groups.

The services were suspended as its two MRI machines, purchased in 2016 with five-year warranties, went out of order -- one in 2020, another in February, this year.

Hundreds from different districts come to the capital every day to receive treatment at this top-rated hospital. However, the suspension of MRI services is adding to their distress as they have to go to other facilities which charge them more, according to several hospital officials.

Maliha Akhter, who came to the hospital from Barishal with her ailing brother Mahmudul Hasan with hopes of affordable treatment, shared an experience similar to Akhter's.

I took my brother to Ibn Sina which cost around Tk 9,500. The costs would have been much less if MRI services were available at DMCH.

Maliha Akhter A patient's sister

"I managed to take my brother to Ibn Sina Diagnostic Centre in Lalbagh with the help of 5-6 people. The overall cost was around Tk 9,500. The costs and hassle would have been much less if the facilities were available at the hospital," said Maliha.

Like Mahmudul and Akhter, hundreds of patients have to go outside the hospital every day for MRI tests, and they have to pay three times more to get the MRI outside.

According to the hospital's director Brig Gen Md Nazmul Haque, the service remains on hold as the company responsible for repairing the machines is unwilling to do so, following the expiration of warranties.

"The government prepared a gazette for  repairing the machines, but the supplier company does not want to comply with the gazette, as it is not in accordance with the contract terms," said the director.

Also, the gazette was prepared after the machines were supplied. Due to this discrepancy, the supplier company are unwilling to repair them as of now, he added.

He said that he met with the health minister at least five times and wrote several letters requesting that the machines be repaired.

"I also submitted a proposal to the ministry, asking permission to repair the machines on our own, but to no avail. We are working to resume the services as soon as possible," Nazmul said.