Patuakhali Medical College, a government medical institution, has only 48 teachers, but it needs at least 80 teachers to run academic activities smoothly. The medical college also has no laboratory and permanent building.
College authorities say there are only five lecturers out of 48 teachers in the institution, although it needs a minimum 18 lecturers. They point out that it will be difficult to teach more students, which is being added under a health and family welfare ministry initiative this year.
Prof Dr Md Moniruzzaman, principal of Patuakhali Medical College told The Business Post, “We have been pressing the ministry to appoint more teachers as we cannot provide quality education and create skilled doctors.
“We are facing an acute shortage of classrooms and laboratories. We now take classes in a small room which is not education friendly at all. I am optimistic that the ministry will take immediate initiative to resolve the college’s crisis for the sake of the future Medicare.”
Just as the Patuakhali Medical College, most of the government and private medical institutions are facing nearly the same situation.
Sources from the Directorate General of Medical Education (DGME) say there are currently 5,668 teaching positions at 37 government medical colleges in the country. Among them, 2,544 positions are still vacant.
It means there is a 45 per cent shortage of teachers in the government medical colleges. The shortage of teachers in basic subjects is the highest.
DGME data shows that 36 per cent of teaching posts in basic subjects such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, community medicine, microbiology, forensic medicine and virology in medical colleges are now vacant, damaging the quality of medical education.
There are 108 medical colleges in the country. Among them, 38 government and 70 are private medical colleges. Almost half of the medical colleges are in the Dhaka Division.
According to health experts, the ministry should take immediate action to increase the number of teachers to ensure a global standard in medical education. Even the graduates will not be approved by the global community if Bangladesh fails to ensure quality education.
Speaking to The Business Post, noted virologist and former vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Prof Dr Nazrul Islam said, “We have been asking the government to increase the number of teachers at medical colleges adequately.
“But our demands fell in deaf ears. Many government and private medical colleges were established with severe shortage of teachers. Unfortunately, the medical colleges are producing sub-standard graduates.”
He added, “We do not want such a scenario in the future. The ministry should take immediate action in this regard.”
Bangladesh Medical & Dental Council President Prof Dr Mahmud Hasan said, “We always direct the medical colleges to fill their vacant seats. We will take action if anyone violates our directives.
M Iqbal Arslan, former dean of the Faculty of Basic Science and Para clinical Science at BSMMU said, “No one cares about our demands as we have been asking for basic science teachers for a long time. The medical education sector will face acute problems in the coming days.
“Actually, the basic science graduates are not interested in being teachers, as they have no scope to practice at hospitals and private chambers. We had requested the ministry for special allocation for teachers who would teach basic subjects. But the finance ministry is not giving approval.”
Lack of infrastructure, labs
Nilphamari Medical College has been running its academic activities in a rented building since 2019. It runs practical classes at Sadar Hospital as it has no other option.
Responding to a query, Nilphamari Medical College Principal Prof Dr Rabiul Islam said, “The students are facing learning losses as we do not have a standard lab, and the lab assistants to run it. We have a shortage of teachers and we still run the college from a rented building.
“Actually, most medical colleges in the country do not have standard labs.”
Patuakhali Medical College Principal Prof Dr Md Moniruzzaman said, “We do not have a laboratory. We use a hospital room for taking practical classes.”
Shortage of teachers
It is mandatory for a 50-bed private medical college to have a 250-bed modern hospital. But most of the private medical colleges are running their academic activities without meeting these prerequisites.
Other than the shortage of teachers, they also lack modern teaching equipment, insiders say.
Some medical colleges are still admitting students and carrying out their activities by filing a writ with the High Court after their respective registrations were cancelled due to non-compliance with Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council policy.
However, these institutions are currently facing complications regarding the internships of their students.
There are 4,626 teachers, including 890 professors, 895 associate professors, 799 assistant professors, 73 curators and 1,968 lecturers in 58 private colleges. The private medical colleges need at least 9,000 teachers, say DGME sources.
Dr Nazrul Islam pointed out that the government should close those medical colleges who are not fulfilling mandatory requirements.
Ministry increases 1,030 more seats
The government currently has no initiative to resolve the shortage of teachers, infrastructure and labs in the country's public and private medical colleges. However, it has already increased the number of seats for Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) courses.
The ministry increased seats by 1,030 at government medical colleges for Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) courses. The additional students will be admitted from the upcoming academic year.
So, the number of total seats will be 5,380 for the academic year 2023-24, according to DGME.
DGHS Director General Prof Dr Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam said, “We are trying to appoint more teachers to the government medical colleges. We will also ensure standard laboratories and build other infrastructure gradually.
“We are optimistic this crisis will end very soon.”
