A hospital with a difference

Unlike other non-government hospitals in the country, it provides good treatment facilities at exceptionally cheaper rates. It is neat and tidy all around and disciplined.

Some patients this correspondent talked during a recent visit were all praise for the hospital, catering to the need of people of bordering Netrakona, Mymensingh and Sherpur districts. Even patients come from nearby areas across the border, they said.

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Built on a 16-acre land surrounded by lush green hillocks and greens, it is only four kilometres from Haluaghat upazila headquarters. But the journey on the metalled road is tedious.

The 41-bed hospital with 14 cabins always remains crowded with patients. But all are well treated by its 165 staff including five doctors, six nurses and 36 trainee nurses.

Every year, foreign doctors came and stay there three to six months to train doctors and nurses.

All the doctors, nurses and other staff are very sincere and dutiful, the patients said.

"It seems they are here only to nurse patients", said Rahima Khathoon, 40. She came here from Jinaigathi upazila in Sherpur for gall bladder stone operation. She had a successful operation at a very cheap rate.

Two of the doctors--Biswa Jyoti Chakma and Tapan Rama--took training in plastic and 'reconstructive orthopedic surgery' in Japan. They said all kinds of operation except open-heart surgery and kidney operation are done here successfully.

At the outdoor, many patients coming from distant areas were waiting.

Every month, 125 to 150 major and minor operations are done here successfully. In July, 54 major operations and 73 minor operations were done. A caesarian operation costs only around Tk 3000 including those for medicine and seat rent.

The hospital's Chief Accountant Ankur Bhoumik told the correspondent that they do not earn profit from medicines supplied to patients.

Hospital sources said patients have to pay Tk 50 per day for a bed and Tk 160 for a cabin. At times many patients have to stay on floors because of the rush.

All kinds of investigation including X-ray, ECG, Ultrasonograph are done at the hospital at cheaper rates.

The Australian Baptist Missionary Society set up the hospital in 1964 only far indigenous people, but all classes of people come here for treatment.

This correspondent talked to about 20 patients who came from different bordering areas of Mymensingh, Sherpur and Netrakona.

Rajat Barai, Executive Director of the hospital, said 40 per cent of its expenditure is met from donations from the Society and the rest 60 from its income.