2.5 years on, why Tk1,500cr Super Specialized Hospital still not fully functional

BSMMU's Tk1,500 crore Super Specialized Hospital was launched in September 2022 with a promise of world-class care for critically ill patients seeking treatment overseas. But, after two and a half years, that promise remains unfulfilled as it struggles to operate with a skeleton crew.

According to hospital authorities, the 750-bed facility is operating with only 300 staff, far below the required 2,700. Its 100-bed ICU and other emergency units remain out of service, while the official warranty for most of the Tk283 crore worth of high-end medical equipment, still unused, is set to expire in December.

Dr Md Shahidul Hasan, additional director of the hospital, told TBS, "We are unable to function at full capacity due mainly to a severe staff shortage. While we require over 2,700 employees, we currently have just around 300, including 211 recruited and a few from BSMMU."

This manpower gap has prevented the intensive care unit (ICU), critical care unit (CCU), and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) from being in service. Other critical departments are also barely functioning, he said.

A visit to the hospital on Tuesday afternoon revealed a modern, spotless building with a fast food shop, a bank branch, an escalator, and a spacious elevator — but with few patients in sight.

A small number of people were seen waiting at outdoor service stations on the ground floor, while others gathered on the first to third floors to consult doctors. Only 15 patients were admitted to the cabins, and just 22 patients occupied the wards.

Shahidul Hasan said that they are in the process of recruiting staff to bring the hospital to full capacity by June.

Experts suggest that once fully operational, this hospital could significantly reduce the number of Bangladeshi patients travelling to India for treatment.

According to India's tourism ministry, around 25 lakh medical tourists from Bangladesh visit India annually, spending about $500 million on healthcare.

However, many patients are now facing difficulties due to the complexities surrounding Indian visas since November last year and experts believe that a state-of-the-art super-specialised hospital in Bangladesh could offer a more viable alternative.

The hospital was built on 3.4 acres of land to the north of BSMMU. Of the total construction cost of Tk1,366 crore, South Korea provided Tk1,047 crore as a loan. The agreement for the hospital's construction was signed with South Korea on 19 November 2015, with a 15-year grace period. Interest payments on the loan have already started.

The hospital boasts 750 beds, 14 ultra-modern operating theatres, a 100-bed intensive care unit (ICU), a 100-bed emergency unit, six VVIP cabins, 22 VIP cabins, and 25 deluxe cabins.

Additionally, the hospital features 11 modular operating theatres of international standard and houses five world-class centres, each specialising in different medical disciplines: Cardio and Cerebrovascular Centre, Hepatobiliary and Liver Transplant Centre, Mother and Child Health Care Centre, Kidney Disease Centre and Accident and Emergency Centre.

Full operation by June planned 

The hospital authorities are planning to make 300 beds functional in the first phase starting in June this year.

Shahidul Hasan said, "To open 300 beds in the first phase, 1,544 staff will be appointed. This includes eight senior chief consultants, 22 chief consultants, 32 senior consultants, 57 consultants, 231 medical officers, 598 senior staff nurses, and additional staff for IT and other services. A decision on the recruitment notification will be made following the syndicate meeting on 26 February."

"Outpatient services are ongoing, but fewer patients are being admitted. The hospital is operating below capacity in terms of services," he added.

However, the source of funding for the new recruitment remains a major issue. According to the hospital authorities, the health ministry has yet to decide on the salary structure.

Focus on 5 key diseases to reduce medical tourism 

In December of last year, Md Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus for the Ministry of Health, announced plans to make the Super Specialized Hospital ready for Bangladeshi patients who typically seek treatment abroad.

The hospital authorities have said that priority will be given to treating kidney and liver transplants, heart transplants, infertility, and cancer at the facility.

Kidney transplants remain rare at public hospitals in Bangladesh, and liver and heart transplants are not currently performed in the country. If these treatments are introduced at the hospital, patients will no longer need to travel abroad, helping to reduce both costs and patient suffering.

BSMMU Proctor Dr Sheikh Farhad said that once the 300 beds are opened, the hospital will begin admitting patients for infertility treatments, kidney and liver transplants, cardiac care, and cancer treatments.

"Patients who previously sought treatment abroad for these conditions will now be able to access world-class services locally," he said.

"Bangladeshi doctors practising in the UK and the US are being contacted, and many have expressed their willingness to return and offer treatments. These services are expected to begin at the Super Specialized Hospital in July," Sheikh Farhad added.

Warrant for equipment nearing expiry 

A total of 6,612 medical devices (403 types), worth Tk283 crore, were purchased for the hospital from South Korean firm Samsung in 2022. While the devices are functional, most remain unused due to manpower shortages. Many of these devices have a three-year warranty which will expire by December this year.

Acknowledging that the devices are facing warranty expiration, BSMMU's Proctor Dr Sheikh Farhad told TBS that a committee, led by the project director, has been formed to assess the situation and provide updates. Some machines also come with a two-year replacement warranty, and the committee will report to the syndicate meeting on 26 February.

Professor Dr Zulfiqur Rahman Khan, former project director, expressed concern that nearly 6,000 machines, many with a three-year warranty, remain unused due to staffing shortages.

He stressed the need for rapid recruitment to start the hospital gradually and avoid depriving people of vital services, adding that professional management is essential for its operation.

Irregularities in BSMMU's previous admin 

In 2023, hospital officials and staff accused the former BSMMU VC, Md Sharfuddin Ahmed, of nepotism and financial misconduct concerning the appointment of 250 employees to the Super Specialized Hospital, which was reported to the Anti-Corruption Commission.

In June 2023, then-Health Minister Zahid Malik announced that Sharfuddin Ahmed would not be involved in the hospital's recruitment process due to these allegations.

Along with recruitment issues, the ACC also flagged irregularities in the operation of two banks and a pharmacy within the hospital. On 2 February this year, the ACC conducted a raid at the hospital.

Furthermore, although 157 officers and staff were sent to South Korea for training under the Super Specialized Hospital project, with a commitment to serve the institution for at least five years after their training, the ACC found that 85 failed to join the hospital post-training.

Additionally, the ACC uncovered irregularities in the sending of extra officers abroad for training.