Valuable instruments procured through government grants worth crores of Taka packed in boxes and cartons remain unused for years at National Heart Foundation in Rajshahi. Shortages of accommodation, expertise and staff have been blamed for leaving of those instruments unused for years.
It is learnt, under the concerted efforts of a number of social workers, a branch of National Heart Foundation was set up in Rajshahi in 1984. The branch of NHF as an affiliated body started to offer treatment to local people.
Late Dr Abdul Khaleque of Aloka area of the city was the main entrepreneur of NHF in Rajshahi. He donated one bigha of land at Bakir More of Luxmipur area and build a four-roomed house on the land. Outdoor services for heart patients starts from the house.
Heart patients were getting almost free-tree treatment until Dr. Abdul Khaleque was alive. But, after his death, a vested quarter attempted to occupy the building. But, due to prompt action from the family members, central Heart Foundation authorities in Dhaka intervened and the organisation continues its activities.
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In 2016-2017 fiscal members of deceased Professor Khaleque formed a new Executive Committee of Rajshahi NHF and the Ministry of Health grants a large amount of financial grant to run the organisation. Later the government approved to build a full-fledged Heart Hospital under Public Private Partnership initiative at a cost of Taka 50 crore ( Tk 500 million). The construction work of the hospital is expected to be completed by 2021.
According to sources, the construction works of the hospital will be completed within next eight-month.
Dr Shahadat Hossain Raoshan, General Secretary of National Heart Foundation, Rajshahi, informed it is true that instrument worth crores of taka remained under cartoons and boxes at the hospital but those are not lying for a long time. An X-ray machine has been procured last year and some instruments worth more than Taka one crore have remained packed and unused for last one year. He added the services of the hospital are still being rendered in a rented house.
The lack of accommodation facility, insufficient staff, lack of expertise and the non-willingness of the owner of the house, the machinery could not be set up. But, a new building will be rented soon where some of the machinery will be installed there. However, he added, the machinery will be permanently set up at the own, new building of NHF when construction of the building is complete.
He further mentioned the present executive committee of the organisation took charge on November-3, 2017 and on November-2, 2020 the tenure of the present committee has been ended.
According to the constitution of the organisation, the tenure of the committee may be extended for the next six months and a new committee for the organisation will be formed through elections within a short time. He hoped the newly formed executive committee will take steps to set up the machinery in the newly constructed building of NHF, Rajshahi.