Cox's Bazar Medical College to be converted into 500-bed hospital

After 17 years of establishment, Cox's Bazar Medical College has received the approval to be turned into a 500-bed comprehensive hospital.

After the final approval obtained at the ACCGP meeting on Tuesday (May 20), the institution will evolve into a comprehensive tertiary-level hospital, while also retaining its function as a medical college.

Confirming the matter, Cox's Bazar Medical College Principal Dr Sohel Baks said that the final approval was given at the ACCGP meeting for the conversion of the medical college into a hospital.

"The official letter has not been received yet, but it may come today," he said, adding, "I hope the construction work will start soon. I will be able to tell you the construction cost and other related matters after I receive the relevant documents."

According to official sources, after the approval, the medical college started its activities on a temporary campus next to the Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital in 2008.

Then, after a long movement by students and Cox's Bazar residents, academic activities started on its own campus at Jhilanja in 2017.

But in absence of a hospital, students had to come to the District Sadar Hospital, 10 kilometres away, for practical classes.

At the same time, the people of the district also remained deprived of advanced and adequate healthcare services.

Students said that although it is a modern medical college in name, there are only two simple buses for students to travel. Besides, there is an acute teacher shortage and accommodation crisis as well.

Fourteen batches of the college passed long time waiting to see the full-fledged medical college become a comprehensive hospital. A full-fledged medical college is entitled to have a 500-bed hospital offering medical services in at least 20 departments but Cox's Bazar Medical College has had none of these.

Most of the posts of professor and associate professor have been lying vacant in the medical college.

Although assistant professors were originally attached to the college on OSD, the college's academic activities are mainly being carried out by junior teachers.

In addition, a six-story building has been constructed in the 10-story academic building.

Although the two dormitories were supposed to have six floors, their construction has been left incomplete with three floors. Due to this, students have to live in crowded public rooms amid accommodation crisis. Students said the situation hampers their regular studies.

Meanwhile, the residents of Cox's Bazar and students have expressed excitement over the news of the approval for converting the medical college into a hospital.

They said that if the hospital is built, there will be no need to travel to Dhaka or Chattogram to receive advanced medical treatment.

The existing pressure on Sadar Hospital will largely reduce. On the other hand, students will be able to access all advanced educational programmes such as practical classes and research within their reach.

Local residents said that there are 1.2 million Rohingyas living in Cox's Bazar, alongside 2.6 million people belonging to the host community.

In addition, millions of tourists gather here. The medical services the 250-bed District Sadar Hospital offers are very inadequate. In the facility, three to four times patients are admitted against the arranged seats.

Therefore, if the Cox's Bazar Medical College Hospital project is fully implemented, it will be a blessing for this region. Official sources said that if it becomes a full-fledged medical college hospital, it will have CCU, ICU and kidney dialysis centre.

Cox's Bazar Civil Society President Abu Morshed Chowdhury said that the Cox's Bazar District Sadar Hospital has to provide medical services to the local population as well as the Rohingyas. Besides, millions of tourists gather here. The available medical services in the 250-bed District Sadar Hospital are very inadequate.

Cox's Bazar Medical College Assistant Professor and Medicine Specialist Dr Nurul Alam said, "I am very happy to hear that the Advisory Committee on Government Procurement has approved the construction of a 500-bed hospital at Cox's Bazar Medical College. This is a special gift from the current government not only for the college but also for the entire district population."

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