Making of a model public hospital

The present state of Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital mismatches all the perceptions about a public hospital. Within a short span of time it has been transformed into a model hospital through some visionary steps.

You will not find any usual chaos at the outdoor, the consultants are regular to visit their patients, no dirt on the floor and no brokers offering any help to book a cabin.

And for this miraculous change, the hospital received the award as the best public hospital this year.

Once upon a time the approach road to the hospital from the main road was lined by hawkers, the surroundings were occupied by slums where drug trade was rampant but nowadays all are gone, said a doctor who has been serving  at the hospital for the last three years.

When inquired, the director of the hospital Dr. Uttam Kumar Barua, who steered the transformation, admitted he had to face a Herculean task since his taking over the charge three years ago.

"There was tremendous pressure on me when I ordered the eviction of the illegal establishments around the hospital. Next we had to face the threats of the brokers. Backed by local influential persons, they had been running their illegal operation for long. Patients, doctors all were held hostage by them," he said.

The hospital is on the verge of full automation now. And you can compare it with any top class private hospital. Already the billing system has been automated and work is going on for automating other sectors.

The hospital had undertaken a clinical management programme three years ago in a bid to make it a model public institution.

Asked about this project, Dr Barua said that under the programme massive training was conducted to change the attitude of the physicians and other staffers.

Now all the doctors are punctual in delegating their responsibility, the attitude of our staff is pro-patient and there is zero tolerance to any kind of harassment to the patients.

And the result is obvious. The revenue of the hospital tripled in the last three years, the director said.

"The hospital has undertaken a vertical expansion project under which the number of beds will be doubled. We want to ensure a homely atmosphere for the patients who come here for treatment. And for that quality service delivery is our main mission."

After the completion of the expansion, it will be turned into a 1600-bed hospital from the present 800-bed one.

The hospital got "HEALTH MINISTER AWARD 2017" and secured the 1st position among tertiary level hospitals this year. Hospital Director Prof. Dr. Uttam Kumar Barua received the award from Health Minister Mohammad Nasim last month.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare selected best hospitals in four categories on the basis of six parameters of WHO. There were five upazilla health complexes, five district hospitals, three medical college hospitals and one specialised hospital awarded.

Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital scored the highest 220.94 out of 300, Dinajpur M Abdur Rahim Medical College was placed in the 2nd position and Dhaka Medical College Hospital in the 3rd position.

 Prof. Dr Uttam Kumar Barua took over as Director in 2015. Since then he has dedicated himself to develop the hospital on the basis of different parameters. Under his leadership now this hospital has turned into a 'Model Public Institute'. This hospital also received the 'best award' from WHO and MOHFW in 2016.

Shaheed Suhrawardy Hospital was established in 1963 as Ayub Central Hospital at Sher-e-Bangla Nagor, Dhaka. The hospital building was designed by architect Louis I Kahn. The government decided on September 05, 2005 to turn Shaheed Suhrawardy Hospital into a medical college.