The government decision to revert Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) to Institute of Post Graduate Medicine and Research (IPGMR) will seriously affect the quality of higher medical education, research and service to patients.

Expressing this concern, a number of senior members of the teaching staff of the BSMMU also said due to this decision, medical equipment and apparatus worth crores of taka purchased since establishment of the university in 1998 and maintained with its own earnings might face ruination. The government allocates no funds for their maintenance.

They pointed out the BSMMU was designed to function as a centre of excellence in medical education and research.

Many senior teachers feared if the autonomous institution is turned into IPGMR again, facilities for patient care and research would

collapse since it would no longer have authority to re-invest its income. They however sought anonymity.

The government decision, if executed, will also make uncertain the fate of over 400 newly recruited teaching staff and around 300 other staff, they mentioned.

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia at a function of pro-BNP Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) on April 24 announced the decision of abolishing the BSMMU and establishing National Medical University (NMU) having a separatecampus.

An 11-member committee headed by the vice chancellor of BSMMU has already drafted a proposed bill — National Medical University Act, 2003 (NMU) — saying the IPGMR can be an outer campus of the NMU.

Experts at the law ministry are now studying the draft.

Some teachers said the government has now taken a 'political decision' since the BSMMU came

into being during the Awami League rule.

"IPGMR was upgraded into BSMMU to free it from bureaucracy and improve management and functioning of the departments. Each department now has financial autonomy. Previously, it took almost a year to get funds even to install a simple X-ray machine," said a senior faculty member.

Pilferage of expensive medicines and surgical equipment and apparatus, rampant in the past, has now come down sharply, he claimed.

The BSMMU enjoys full autonomy in managing patient care, strengthening diagnostic support, enhancing quality of research and in other relevant fields, which put an end to bureaucratic tangles with their negative impact, sources said.

"Autonomy of the university led to the creation of new departments and facilities like cardiovascular and hepatobilliary surgeries, breast and thyroid clinics, respiratory medicine, conservative dentistry and improved emergency service," a faculty member said.

Autonomy of the institution also led to installation of more efficient and modern machine and equipment for treatment of heart diseases, kidney transplantation, liver surgery, paediatric endoscopy, screening blood and for intensive care, he mentioned.

Use of biochemistry and microbiologylaboratories and categories of tests greatly increased due to autonomy of the university, he added.

Sources said the number of patients -- both outdoor and indoor — rose about four times. Besides, income from various sources before 1998 was around Tk 25 lakh a month and it now stands at about Tk 1.25 crore a month. The money is re-invested for purchase of medical equipment, their maintenance and expansion of different services, sources said.

The university now provides a grant of Tk 5 lakh for research. In recognition of its achievements, the World Health Organisation has offered to fund developing training module professional development and teaching software.

"We are doing research at BSMMU with great hopes but a tug-of-war between two political parties is putting our future into jeopardy," said a post-graduate student.

When contacted, ProfMAHadi, vice chancellor of the university and also president of Bangladesh

MedicalAssociation, said, "NMU is a DAB demand and it has been proposed for consideration. In fact, BSMMU has no permanent campus. We hope NMU will have its permanent campus nearby."

Asked if the BSMMU would be abolished, he said, "It is the government's baby. It is their decision, not mine."