Staff Correspondent

The National Orthopedic Hospital and Rehabilitation Institute (NITOR), widely known as Pangu Hospital, is struggling with an overwhelming number of patients and persistent complaints about its services.

Located in the heart of Dhaka, the hospital's corridors are crowded with patients who wait for weeks—sometimes months—hoping for admission and treatment.

Families Forced to Sleep in Corridors

Mohammad Asma Begum, who traveled from Mymensingh with her husband Kajol, is one of many experiencing the hospital’s shortcomings.

Kajol has a rib tumor, and despite arriving at the hospital 11 days ago, he has yet to be admitted.

“On the first day, we got a ticket and saw a doctor. They said, ‘Not today, come tomorrow.’ The next day, the doctor did not see him, and on the following day, tests were ordered, but the required test was not available at the hospital. I was directed to a cancer hospital in Mohakhali. There, we were informed he has cancer and will need treatment at both places. However, the doctor never saw him again, and he wasn’t admitted,” she said, visibly distressed.

Rokshana Begum has faced similar challenges over the past three months. “My husband came here with back pain, and it was later discovered that he had tuberculosis in his spine. We were told the operation would cost one lakh taka. How can we afford such an amount at a government hospital?” she lamented.

Broker Syndicate Exploits Vulnerable Patients

Adding to their woes, patients are targeted by brokers promising cheaper services at other hospitals. Asma Begum said, “Every day, 5 to 6 people approach us, offering to admit us to other hospitals for a lower fee.”

Rokshana also recounted, “The brokers try to convince us to go to other hospitals, but we don’t listen. The other day, students caught some brokers and beat them up, but the hospital remains silent about it.”

Extortion Over Basic Services

Patients and their families face additional exploitation within the hospital premises. One patient revealed anonymously, “When we were taken on a trolley by the ward boy, they demanded Tk 800. This group of people keeps asking for Tk 800. We had to negotiate to reduce the price. We can't walk due to fractures, and they take advantage of that.”

Hospital Management Responds

Hospital director Mohammad Abul Kenan acknowledged the pressure on Pangu Hospital, saying, “All public hospitals in the country are overloaded. If treatment were perfect, patients wouldn't complain. Most come after accidents, and their moods aren’t great. Even when treatment is good, they may still feel dissatisfied.”

Kenan explained that the hospital has a total capacity of 1,000 beds, including two reserved for war veterans. “We have over 1,000 patients in our outdoor department. Around 250 patients visit the emergency department daily, and more than 1,200 stay inside. Providing the level of care found in the country’s top private hospitals or in Singapore and Malaysia is not possible here. That’s why we always have to say, ‘Sorry, no beds available."

On allegations of patients waiting days without seeing a doctor, Kenan refuted the claims. “If someone is not admitted, they cannot stay outside for long. We make sure to admit emergency cases. If there are no beds, patients may remain outside. However, once admitted, doctors visit them every day,” he said.

Hygiene and Washroom Issues

Kenan admitted to the challenges of maintaining cleanliness. “Each ward has four washrooms, used by 20-25 patients each. Maintaining cleanliness is difficult as patients are often unaware of proper hygiene practices,” he noted.

Tackling Brokers and Costs

Regarding the persistent broker issue, Kenan said, “It is impossible for us to monitor every area, but we will try to be more vigilant. If we catch someone involved in such activities, we will take action. Patients also need to be cautious.”

He also responded to the complaints about high surgery costs: “There are no additional charges for treatment here, such as for medicines or injections. However, surgical supplies like rings, nails, plates, and rods are often unavailable in the hospital and must be bought from outside. The cost depends on what is required for the patient.”

Calls for Urgent Development

Kenan stressed the need for significant development at the hospital. “We have 12 units, each dealing with different types of patients based on the day of the week. However, due to the heavy patient load, they are always full. It is essential to make the units independent.

“The emergency department needs to be expanded into a larger, fully-equipped unit. As NITOR is the largest trauma hospital in the country, developing subspecialties like spine surgery, plastic surgery, and hand surgery is crucial. We need more beds and better equipment to ensure that patients receive primary treatment. We will petition the government to make these units independent,” he said.

A Cry for Help

As Bangladesh’s largest orthopedic care centre, NITOR serves thousands of patients, but the strain on its limited resources is evident. With patients sleeping on floors, falling victim to brokers, and struggling to afford surgeries, urgent action is required to improve services and facilities at this critical public hospital, experts said.