Mymensingh Mancha Protests Irregularities and Mismanagement at Medical College Hospital
Civic organisation Mymensingh Mancha has staged a protest over allegations of long-standing irregularities, mismanagement, medicine shortages, difficulties in medical testing and corruption in lift management at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH).
The protest was held at the hospital’s main gate at 11am on Monday, October 26. During the hour-long programme, speakers highlighted various problems at the hospital and called for immediate and effective action.
The speakers said healthcare is a fundamental right. However, the hospital, which serves ordinary people across Mymensingh and the wider region, has long faced allegations of irregularities and mismanagement. They stressed that necessary medical services must be ensured, particularly for poor and working-class people.
The speakers alleged that patients were not receiving the medicines they needed. In some cases, they were even forced to buy basic saline solutions from outside. They also mentioned that during a visit to the hospital on October 24, the health minister gave Tk 1,000 to a female patient to buy saline. They questioned why such shortages of essential medicines and medical supplies continued at a government hospital.
The speakers also expressed frustration over the hospital’s diagnostic services. They alleged that patients were being forced to seek tests at private facilities. Even for basic tests such as X-rays, patients sometimes had to make repeated visits over two to three days. They claimed that equipment had remained out of order for years, with no visible action to repair it or purchase replacements.
Regarding allegations of medicine and medical supply smuggling from the hospital, the speakers said the media had reported on such networks on several occasions. They said these allegations were particularly concerning when patients were being deprived of essential medicines and supplies. They called for effective measures to eliminate such networks and bring those involved to justice.
The speakers also demanded the publication of the investigation report on a fire at the hospital in September. They said the investigation committee had submitted its report, but its release had been delayed. Given the reported casualties, panic among patients and damage to public property, they said the report should be made public in the public interest.
The speakers further alleged corruption and irregularities in the management of lifts operated under the Public Works Department. They said patients and their relatives faced difficulties when using the lifts. Referring to the September fire, they called for transparency in lift management and a proper investigation into the allegations.
The protesters urged the authorities concerned to make Mymensingh Medical College Hospital more patient-friendly. They said ordinary people seeking treatment at government hospitals must have access to essential medicines, diagnostic tests and quality healthcare.
The rally was chaired by Imtiaz Ahmed, chief coordinator of Mymensingh Mancha. Speakers included the organisation’s co-chief coordinator Abu Bakkar Siddique Rumel, organisers Abdul Hannan Al Azad, Shahriar Ahmed Ashik, Saddam Hossain, Tanzil Hossain Munim, Sajib Akand, Sushanta Shil and Md Asad, among others.
The rally concluded with a call for urgent intervention by the relevant authorities to eliminate irregularities and mismanagement at the hospital and ensure proper healthcare for the public.
