The students of Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU) are facing trouble to get medical treatments and services from the medical centre of the university as there are only 3 doctors in the medical centre, that is supposed to provide medical assistance to 8,000 students of the university.
According to university sources, the 3 doctors are female .There is no male doctor since the chief medical officer left a year and a half ago. No new doctors were appointed. As a result, the students are facing trouble to get required medical services.
The students said, they seek services and necessary advice from the doctors of the university when they are sick but they are prescribed some common medicine and no high antibiotics are prescribed from the medical centre. There is absence of important medical equipments. The students confused about the accuracy of the weight measuring device of the medical centre.
The students also added, the university administration has started telemedicine services as the university is closed during corona pandemic. They have to take service over phone calls at different times staying at home but in some cases the male students cannot share problems with a female doctor which is possible for consulting with male doctor. If a male student is unable to go to the medical center on foot for illness, it is difficult for a female doctor to come to the student residence and give treatment. For these reasons, the students demand appointment of male doctors as well as female doctors.
Besides, the students demanded for adequate supply of essential medicines and medical equipments, full time doctors and at least 10 to 15 seats at the medical center. They also demanded appointment of good quality skilled doctors including neurologists and ophthalmologists and set up regular counseling programs to improve mental health by psychiatrists.
On this matter, University Medical Officer and University Treasurer Professor Dr Mohammed Faruque Uddin said, “We have in mind to appoint male doctor. We will consider this matter seriously for the convenience of the students. At present there are 3 doctors. More doctors will be appointed for the convenience of the students. In addition, necessary steps will be taken to improve the medical activities of the medical.
NSTU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Md. Didar-ul-Alam said, we are thinking about the issue. The current female doctors are appointed in previous recruitment. No new doctors are appointed as the recruitment is stopped for long time. For the convenience of the students, the appointment of male doctors will be kept in the next recruitment. A new building has been constructed for medical and it has been shifted there. The medical services will be further improved to provide better services to the students, said the Vice-Chancellor.