MRI-CT scan euipment not available at Dhaka Children's Hospital

A couple came to Dhaka from Bhola district with their daughter. Their destination was the country's largest children's medical center—Bangladesh Children's Hospital and Institute in the capital's Shyamoli (Dhaka Children's Hospital). After examinations and tests, doctors advised an MRI. But at that very moment, the path to treatment seemed blocked. Because the hospital has no MRI facility.

On the advice of a hospital employee, they went to a nearby private diagnostic center. After several hours of running around, the test was done. The bill came to 9,000 taka.

Sharing his experience, the child's father told Agamir Somoy with a disappointed voice, "If even the country's largest children's hospital doesn't have this test, where are we supposed to go? Money was spent, and we also had to run here and there."

This is not just one family's experience. It is the daily reality for hundreds of families who come for treatment every day at Bangladesh Children's Hospital and Institute.

Established in 1972, this hospital is the only tertiary-level specialized medical center for children in the country. According to hospital authorities, an average of over 1,000 patients receive treatment in the outpatient department daily; around 681 children remain admitted. For many of these children suffering from complex diseases, MRI and CT scans are essential for diagnosis or evaluating treatment progress. Yet, to this day, facilities for these two tests have not been established in the hospital.

As a result, patients and their attendants have to leave the hospital with the doctor's prescription in hand. That is where another phase of uncertainty, extra costs, and broker exploitation begins.

Brokers' Trap Just Outside the Hospital Gate:

Although patients come to this hospital for treatment from all over the country, many of them, the map of Dhaka city is unfamiliar. Where the test will be done, how much it will cost, which hospital is better—they know nothing. This helplessness becomes the 'golden mine' for a group of greedy brokers.

Inquiries reveal that with the collusion of some hospital employees, patients are sent to specific private diagnostic centers. In return, those involved receive commissions. Again, many diagnostic centers themselves employ marketing personnel or "brokers." There are allegations that some doctors are also sometimes involved in this network.

Talking to patients, it is learned that they are charged 500 to 1,000 taka with promises of "help" or "getting the test done at a lower cost." The patient is then taken to a specific facility.

Government Hospital Right Next Door, Yet Destination is Private Center

Right opposite of Bangladesh Children's Hospital is the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital. They have MRI and CT scan facilities there. The cost is also comparatively much lower.

Yet, why don't most patients go there? The answer comes from patients' experiences. A guardian from Gazipur has been getting treatment for his son, who has been autistic since birth, at this hospital. Over the past six years, he has had to get his son's brain MRI done several times. Each time, he got the test done at a private diagnostic center.

When asked, he said, "A hospital employee told me he would get the test done at a lower cost. Later, I saw that I had to pay him 1,000 taka as well."

Another guardian initially got the test done at a private facility in the same way but later learned about the closest public hospital. In his words, "I didn't know anything at first. One person from the hospital took 500 taka and sent me to a diagnostic center. It cost 8,000 taka to get the MRI done there. Now I get the same test done at the nearby government hospital for only 4,000 taka. It takes a bit more time, but it gets done at half the cost."

Government hospital not on the recommendation list

This reporter asked six employees and two officials of the hospital where it is better to get an MRI or CT scan done. Five of them named a specific private diagnostic center. Some even promised to arrange a special discount there. However, none of them mentioned the nearby government hospital.

In the middle of such a conversation, Md. Sazzad Halim, a marketing executive of a private diagnostic center, entered an official's room. He claims that about 90% of the children's hospital patients' MRIs and CT scans are done at their facility.

In response to a question about whether any benefits are given to the hospital's doctors or employees, he said that patients go to their facility because of comparatively lower costs for the tests.

On the other hand, several hospital officials deny the allegations of commissions. Their explanation is that patients are advised to go there not for any financial benefit, but because of the institution's reputation.

Patients wouldn't suffer if the equipment existed

Hospital director Professor Mirza Md. Ziaul Islam says that due to the huge amount of money required to purchase MRI and CT scan machines, it has not been possible until now.

He said that the government gives the hospital an annual grant of 280 million taka. A development project worth about 3.44 billion taka has recently been approved. Under this project, MRI and CT scan machine will be purchased.

In Bangladesh, an MRI machine costs 120 to 200 million taka. A CT scan machine requires 30 to 50 million taka.

The director said, "If the machines can be installed, treating children with complex diseases will be much easier. Patients' time will be saved, and costs will decrease."

Regarding the allegations of sending patients to private facilities, his statement is that the hospital always verbally instructs to send patients to the nearby government hospital. If anyone is found to be involved in sending patients to private facilities for personal gain, immediate action will be taken against them.

Groups concerned say that if these two services are finally launched through the government project, it won't just add two machines; a long-standing chapter of suffering will be removed from the treatment path of thousands of sick children in the country.