Bashundhara Group a pioneer of low-cost health service, medical education

Bashundhara Group, the leading business conglomerate of the country, is greatly contributing to the health sector by ensuring low-cost and quality treatment for the people. Besides, the Group has been providing quality medical education at a very low cost at its Bashundhara Ad-Din Medical College Hospital at Keraniganj in the capital. Bashundhara Ad-Din Medical College Hospital has gained huge popularity among people. It has turned into authentic and friendly place for medical education and treatment. Admission fee at the medical college is only Tk 6 lakh. The fee is five-six times lower than that of other institutions. People, particularly the poor are getting low-cost treatment here. Apart from Bashundhara Ad-Din Medical College and Hospital, Bashundhara Group is running several specialised hospitals. It has also engagement with different health institutions. Bashundhara Eye Hospital and Research Institute located in Bashundhara Residential Area at Baridhara of the capital is providing poor and elderly people with free eye treatment and surgeries. Affluent people can also receive treatment in the hospital paying a certain amount of fees. The hospital is equipped with efficient and experienced doctors and modern medical equipment. Bashundhara Group is also constructing a 100-bed non-profitable hospital in Manikganj district. The hospital is likely to go into operation next year. A similar hospital having the capacity of 100 beds is going to be set up in Bancharampur of Brahmanbaria district under the Group. Bashundhara Group has also undertaken a mega project to construct a 1,000-bed hospital in Bashundhara Residential Area. This will be the country’s biggest hospital. World-class treatment will be given to patients at a very low cost, sources concerned said. It is learnt that Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan has initiated low-cost medical education and health services for disadvantaged people as part of corporate social responsibilities. Bashundhara Ad-Din Medical College Hospital Muti-storey building and eye-catching campus of the medical college and hospital bear the testimony to magnificent arrangement for world-class medical study and treatment. Ambulances are busy carrying patients to and from the hospital. The whole area of the hospital teems with the patients, relatives, doctors and other medical staffs. During a visit to Bashundhara Ad-Din Medical College and Hospital, our correspondent saw that many patients and visitors are taking photo and selfi at the place. “It is amazing to see such a big hospital here. It seems to be foreign hospital. I have come to visit my sister-in-law and her newborn. Cabin fare, operation fee and other costs here are very low. It is really exceptional.” Sultana Asma, who came from Daudkandi, said. Later, a critical patient got down from the ambulance with the help of two medical who took her inside the hospital in a wheelchair followed by her relatives. All patients and relatives were seen in the hospital corridor, ticket counter and pharmacy. They all were maintaining social distancing due to the ongoing corona pandemic. Pregnant women and children were also seen waiting to receive treatment in Gynae and Obs department. Morsheda Aktar, a patient, said “I gave birth to a baby in this hospital. It is better than any other renowned hospitals of the country. Cleanliness, hygiene, low-cost and quality treatment are the special features of this hospital.” Talking to this correspondent, some other patients said magnificent atmosphere of the hospital has created an impression that treatment may be costly. But the reality is different. About low-cost treatment, Dr Ruhul Amin, director of Bashundhara Ad-Din Medical College and Hospital, said “It has been possible for us to provide quality healthcare facility at low cost due to generosity of Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan. He donated land and funded construction of the hospital complex. Medical equipment was also purchased with his assistance.” Besides, the Bashundhara Group Chairman is going to set up three other hospitals at Manikganj, Brahmanbaria and Bashundhara Residential Area in the capital, he added. Eight years into its journey, Bashundhara Ad-Din Hospital located at Bashundhara Riverview Project in Keraniganj has become very popular among the local people. The 500-bed Bashundhara Ad-Din Hospital is providing specialised treatment at nominal cost. The poor and marginal class people can afford treatment in the hospital. Since its inception in 2012, the hospital has been contributing to the treatment of helpless people under financial assistance of the Bashundhara Group Chairman, said Dr Ruhul Amin. “Bashundhara Group has not only funded the hospital structure but funded construction of four buildings for the students. World-class medical education and treatment have been possible at the college due to charity of the Group,” he said. Bashundhara Group has created a rare precedence in charity and generosity towards ensuring quality treatment and medical education within affordable cost, he pointed out. A source concerned said the Group initially invested Tk 200 crore for setting up the medical college and hospital and it continues to invest money for the purpose. . Why Bashundhara Ad-Din Medical College and Hospital different? Around 100 renowned physicians of various disciplines are engaged in providing treatment round-the-clock at the hospital. Hospital’s director Prof Ruhul Amin is an eminent eye specialist of the country. Prof Arifa Akter Zahan has already earned name for her efficiency in handling cases related to gynecology and obstetrics. Besides, names of Dr ABM Omar Faruque of Anatomy, Prof Belayet Hossain Khan of forensic medicine, Dr Sonjoy Kumar Saha of internal medicine, Dr Abdul Malek of orthopedics, Dr M Mashiur Rahman of otolaryngology and Dr Jakia Fahmida of dentistry, Dr Zakir Hossain of laparoscopic surgery and Associate Professor Mostafa Ahmed Doha of transfusion medicine are to be mentioned. The hospital provides specialised treatment for burn and plastic surgery, ENT and all other patients with efficient physicians. Treatment and cost A patient can receive treatment at outdoor at a cost of Tk 150. The charge of paying bed is Tk 350 per day, cabin Tk 800-Tk 1,800, digital X-ray Tk 250-800, ECG Tk 150, black and white Ultrasound Tk 400, normal delivery Tk 3,000, and cesarean operation and medicine Tk 8,200. The hospital provides ambulance service for carrying pregnant women for free. Such service is available from 8am to 8pm. Any other can be taken to the hospital from any place of South Keraniganj at Tk 330. This service is active for 24 hours. There are ample opportunities for pregnant women to avail themselves of medical consultation and routine check-up at low cost. Vaginal cyst examination, operation, pediatric treatment and vaccination are also available in the hospital. Meanwhile, quality food shop, cafeteria, special dress and items shopping centre for mother and children, pharmacy and sports zone for children are added attractions. People suffering from various eye problems can receive quality treatment at Bashundhara Ad-Din Hospital at affordable cost. Eye test through computerized procedure and modern cataract surgeries, including Phaco, are available in the hospital. Cardiac problems, cancer, hernia, piles, appendix, and urinary stone are treated in the hospital with medicines and operations by efficient doctors. The hospital is going to have RT-PCR test lab within a week for examining and treating Covid-19 patients. Bashundhara Ad-Din Medical College, an excellent centre of medical graduation at low cost Meritorious youths are lucky enough to get admission into MBBS course at Bashundhara Ad-Din Medical College at 6 lakh. Picturesque campus has eight departments, including anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, community medicine, forensic medicine, microbiology, pharmacology and pathology. The medical college has the capacity to enroll 50 students for MBBS courses per academic year. Around 28 foreign students under two batches are studying in the college. Prof Dr Mohammad Nurul Alam, Principal of Bashundhara Ad-Din Medical College, has played an important role in making it a centre of excellence for medical study. Taking to this correspondent, Nurul Alam said, “29 ex-students, including 15 female, are working as interns at Bashundhara Ad-Din Hospital. They are very meritorious.” About reputation of the medical college, he said 28 students from India, Nepal and other countries have got admitted here in last two batches due to its growing popularity. Foreign students have started to knock for the upcoming batch although the government is yet to allow medical admission due to the corona crisis. One hundred efficient teachers of the medical college are teaching medical students and treating patients in the hospital. Students at home and abroad being inspired by professors, associate professors, assistant professors and lecturers are dealing with academic and hospital issues together. About giving priority to women in medical education, Nurul Alam said 60 percent of the students in the medical college are female. Bashundhara Ad-Din Medical College is fully residential. It is equipped with modern class rooms, seminar rooms and labs. The medical college is working relentlessly to produce quality physicians so that they can efficiently contribute to the country’s life-saving sector, he added.