Two CT scan machines have been lying inoperative at Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) for the past seven months, causing suffering for patients and forcing them to do tests at private diagnostic centres.
Hospital authorities said that one CT scan machine has been out of order since July 24, 2025, while another machine has remained inoperative since June 2, 2024. As a result, patients who require urgent diagnostic tests are being referred to private facilities, where the cost is nearly double.
Doctors say CT scans are crucial for diagnosing serious conditions such as stroke, head injuries and brain tumours. Before the machines became inoperative, the hospital performed around 25 CT scans daily. With the service unavailable, patients and their families now face additional financial pressure and inconvenience.
According to hospital sources, a CT scan at a government hospital costs about Tk 2,000, while private diagnostic centres charge around Tk 4,000 for the same test.
The Siemens machine, installed in 2009, is about 16 years old and has reached the end of its operational life. The manufacturer has reportedly informed the hospital that it can no longer be repaired. The Toshiba machine, installed in 2020, could be restored but requires a new Comprehensive Maintenance Contract (CMC). A five-year maintenance agreement has been proposed at an estimated cost of about Tk 50 million, but the proposal is awaiting approval from the Ministry of Finance.
Hospital officials said the Siemens machine had previously broken down but was repaired and brought back into operation in 2022. However, the machine’s IRS system and hard disk have now failed, making further repairs impossible.
Another hospital source said spare parts imported from Japan for Mitford Hospital in Dhaka were recently sent to Satkhira Medical College Hospital to repair a CT scan machine there. An outstanding bill for previous work at KMCH has not yet been paid, making the company reluctant to undertake new repairs at the hospital.
Patients have expressed frustration over the situation. Didar Sheikh, a resident of Terokhada upazila, said he brought his 75-year-old father to KMCH for treatment. According to him, the attending doctor prescribed several tests and also provided the name and phone number of a representative of a private diagnostic centre. The tests had to be completed there.
Dipankar Das, a patient from Batiaghata who has been admitted to the hospital for two days, said he had to do his medical tests outside the hospital.
Mina Begum, a resident of Khalishpur, said she returned to the hospital after her back and leg pain did not improve with medication. She was advised to undergo several tests, but a doctor’s assistant suggested that she have them done at a private diagnostic centre.
Hospital Director Dr Kazi Md Ainul Islam said authorities are communicating with relevant departments to repair the machines and procure a new CT scan unit. A formal request for a new machine was sent to the Directorate General of Health Services on October 9 last year, but it is unclear when the service will resume.
He also said that a committee has been formed to investigate complaints regarding patient food and that efforts are ongoing to prevent brokers from operating within the hospital premises.