Construction Delays Leave Khagrachhari Hospital Patients Stranded on Floors
Photo Collected
The expansion project for the Khagrachari Modern District Hospital, intended to upgrade the facility from 100 to 250 beds, remains stalled eight years after its inception. As construction on the new multi-story building languishes, the existing facility is struggling to manage a severe patient overflow, forcing many to receive treatment on floors and hallways.
The current facility serves as a critical healthcare hub not only for the nine sub-districts of Khagrachari but also for residents of Longadu and Baghaichari in the neighboring Rangamati district. With an average daily patient volume ranging from 600 to 2,000, the hospital is perpetually over capacity. A recent site visit revealed that the 100-bed unit was occupied by 230 patients, with many families forced to set up temporary bedding on ward corridors.
Patients and their families report significant distress, citing a lack of privacy, hygiene concerns, and the difficulty of navigating cramped spaces while caring for loved ones suffering from respiratory ailments or age-related conditions. Hospital staff have expressed similar frustrations, noting that the delays prevent the activation of essential diagnostic and critical care units.
According to the hospital’s resident medical officer, Dr. Ripol Bappi, the inability to occupy the new building has stifled the recruitment of necessary medical staff and the deployment of advanced diagnostic tools. The master plan for the new facility includes a comprehensive suite of modern medical services, such as Intensive Care Units (ICU), Coronary Care Units (CCU), dialysis centers, and advanced imaging departments, including CT, MRI, and mammography capabilities.
The Public Works Department, which oversees the construction, maintains that the project is currently 75 percent complete. Executive Engineer Sushanta Kumar De stated that while the project was originally slated for completion in 2024, logistical hurdles have necessitated repeated notices to the contractor to accelerate progress.
Acting Civil Surgeon Ratan Khisa confirmed that the health department has issued multiple formal requests for the expedited completion of the site. Until the new infrastructure is handed over, the hospital remains unable to provide life-saving specialized care, leaving thousands of residents in the region to contend with an overburdened and inadequate medical system.
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