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Infectious Diseases Hospital

No supply of diphtheria, tetanus drugs for 2yrs

Mahbuba Zannat
The Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) in the capital has run out of supplies of penicillin, anti-diptheric and anti-tetanus serums for two years now, causing immense suffering to poor patients.
The hospital used to dispense the medicines free of cost, but patients now have to buy the lifesaving drugs from outside, due to the depleted supplies.
"The hospital specialises in treating tetanus and diphtheria patients. But now we cannot pro-
vide them with the most important medicines", Shahidul Haque, director of the hospital, told The Daily Star.
"We invite tender for purchasing medicines usually once a year. But most contractors do not supply penicillin saying that its production is limited. The drug is unavailable even at the central medicine store," he said, adding that the hospital's annual demand lor penicillin is 15,000 to 20,000 units.
The hospital director said other medicines and equipment are available at the hospital; but it was found that patients have to buy
even syringes and cannulas from outside.
A poor man with a newborn who developed tetanus soon after birth complained that he had to buy medicines worth Tk 1,566 at a time for his baby though he was informed that treatment is free at the hospital.
"I went to Dhaka Shishu Hospital first. But as the baby developed tetanus, physicians there referred my baby to the Infectious Diseases Hospital, saying that it’s a public hospital and treatment is free here. But
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thing is that I have to buy even a syringe and cannula from outside," he said, showing a March 12 prescription.
A nurse, however, claimed that they provide the patients with free medicines according to the requirement. "But if we don't have supplies, how could we give medicines free of cost?" she said.
On average, 150 to 200 people come everyday to the hospital's outpatient department for treatment while 40 people receive inpatient care.
Everyday around 150 people also come to the hospital with dog bites as the IDH is supposed to supply them with anti-rabies vaccines (ARVs^ manufactured by the institute oTPubnc Health (IPh), at a subsidised rate.
But they never get the vaccines. Rather they are handed in a ticket and then routed to the public health institute, which is a kilometre away.
This correspondent talked to one Khaleda Begum who came from Chandpur to get free ARVs for her seven-year-old son.
"The Chandpur district hospital authorities told me that ARVs are available free of cost only at the Infectious Diseases Hospital at Mohakhali. So I've come here enduring much trouble on the way," she said, adding that one such vaccine costs Tk 2,000 at pharmacies, which she cannot afford.
When asked to comment on this, Dr Aziz Ahmed Khan of the hospital said that they asked the IPH to stop sending the vaccines to them as hospital employees started selling the vaccines to the patients.