MRI machine, above, and CT Scan machine, below left, have become dysfunctional due to lack of spare parts, while 1000 milliampere X-ray machine has remained inoperative since inauguration of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogra on august 31, 2006. Photo: STAR

Medical equipment worth around Tk 25 crore has been lying idle at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital (SZMCH) in Bogra for long due to unavailability of technicians, shortage of maintenance funds and other problems.
A 1000 milliampere X-ray machine and several other pieces of equipment have remained virtually inoperative in several departments since the inauguration of the hospital on August 31, 2006, much to the frustration of patients.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine worth around Tk 9.68 crore has remained dysfunctional since April 17, 2010 due to lack of spare parts.
The government allocated Tk 20 lakh to repair the machine a few months ago but the authorities need around Tk 50 lakh to run the equipment, SZMCH sources said.
On an average every day, 10 patients of SZMCH have to bear additional coast for having the images in private clinics, sources said, adding that abdomen imaging charge at SZMCH is Tk 4,000 whereas one has to pay Tk 12,000 for the same image at a private clinic.
Another emergency equipment Computer Tomography (CT) Scan worth around Tk 4.54 crore has been lying idle in absence of spare parts worth Tk 4.75 lakh since February 27 this year. Around 60 patients of the hospital have to bear the cost for their CT scan in private clinics.
A Tk 60 lakh Mammography machine has remained inoperative at the hospital since 2006. The supplier failed to run the equipment used for breast cancer screening but the authority paid its bills earlier.
Jostra Heart Lung Machine worth around Tk 60 lakh and Jostra Heart Exchanger for cardiac surgery department and Holter Monitor worth Tk 8.75 lakh have not started functioning after their supply to the hospital just after its inauguration due to lack of manpower.
Costly equipment Chat Lab worth around Tk 4.50 crore is also lying idle due to the same reason.
ETT worth Tk 50 lakh has been lying in cardiology department in a packed condition for the last seven years, department sources said.
Hospital administration sources said they have workable and idle pieces of equipment worth Tk 60.70 crore, many of them were provided by the Central Medical Stores Depot in Dhaka for 500-bed Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogra during its initial stage.
A senior official of the hospital admitted that many costly pieces of equipment of several departments including cardiology have been lying idle since inauguration of the hospital.
When contacted, SZMCH Director Brig Gen Md Afzalur Rahman said, "The government has taken proper initiative to run the costly equipment immediately. The authorities instructed me to repair MRI and CT scan machines to ensure quality treatments for a minimum cost.”
Extra Corporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy Machine and a few other instruments are running smoothly after repair, he said.