DMCH MRI machines still out of order

Tushar, a 45-year-old man from Bagerhat, came to Dhaka last week to get treatment for a neurological issue at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), and a specialist asked him to undergo a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) test.

Little did he know that both MRI machines at the DMCH are now out of order. One of these machines became non-operational before the Covid crisis hit Bangladesh, and another went out of commission this January.

Despite facing a health emergency, Tushar could not secure a serial for an MRI test at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery for two days. So, he decided to undergo this test from a private hospital with elevated costs.

Zaman, one of Tushar’s attendees, said, “It would have cost us Tk 3,000 at the DMCH, but the private healthcare facility charged us nearly twice the amount, despite going there with a reference.”

This is not an isolated incident, as thousands of patients just like Tushar, are being forced to undergo MRI tests in other facilities, as those are no longer available at the DMCH. Moreover, one of the CT-scan machines is also not working, insiders say.

Speaking to The Business Post, sources from the hospital’s admin and radiology departments say the DMCH installed the two MRI and one CT scan machines to provide medical services to underprivileged patients at a nominal cost in 2017.

The DMCH currently has two CT-Scan machines, but stopped working last week. The hospital treats over 2,600 patients daily, but the two out of order MRI, and one CT-Scan machines at the emergency unit are seriously hampering the hospital’s ability to offer affordable healthcare.

Technologists at the facility say the now defunct two MRI machines used to provide services to around 30 to 35 patients during two shifts per day.

Moreover, the only operational CT-Scan machine at the DMCH is now facing additional pressure from patients, which may shorten its lifespan as well. Usually, over 170 to 190 patients used to get CT-Scan services daily, but the figure has dropped to 150.

Commenting on the situation, DMCH Director Brig Gen Nazmul Haque said, “One of the MRI machines became inoperable before the emergence of Covid 19, while the second one went out of order around four months ago.

“The service warranties of the two MRI machines have already expired, so it is becoming difficult to determine how to repair those. We have informed the ministry, but we are yet to receive any decision.”

He added that the DMCH is now referring patients who need MRI to the nearby Sheikh Hasina Burn Institute.

Dr Syed Mohammad Sajjad Jalal, head of radiology department at the Sheikh Hasina Burn Institute, and also an assistant professor said, “We are tackling additional pressure of patients since the MRI machines of DMCH became inoperable.

“Serials for patients are now spanning multiple days.”