Unpaid Bills Leave Millions of Taka Worth of Medical Equipment Locked and Inactive at Kurigram General Hospital
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Medical equipment worth approximately 210 million taka has remained unused and partially abandoned at Kurigram General Hospital for over six years due to a protracted payment dispute between the government and two private contractors. The sophisticated diagnostic machinery, which includes software-dependent devices, has been rendered non-functional after contractors locked the systems with passwords, citing outstanding bills.
The equipment was procured during the 2018-19 fiscal year under the Health, Population and Nutrition Sector Development Program, with a total allocation of over 329 million taka. Two Rajshahi-based firms, Messers Micro Traders and Harman Enterprise, supplied 118 and 75 types of medical items, respectively. While the hospital paid 119.99 million taka, an outstanding balance of 209.47 million taka remains unsettled, stalling the project’s completion and preventing staff from operating the machines.
The inventory of dormant equipment includes echocardiography machines, portable X-rays, endoscopy units, electrosurgical units, infusion and syringe pumps, defibrillators, and various orthopedic sets. Hospital technicians report that while some machines were briefly operational during the initial installation phase, they became inaccessible once the contractors implemented password restrictions as a leverage mechanism for the unpaid dues.
The impact of this standoff is severe for local patients, particularly those from low-income backgrounds. Residents seeking diagnostic services are frequently directed to private clinics where costs are significantly higher than the subsidized rates available at public facilities. For instance, diagnostic tests that would cost 200 taka at the hospital are reported to cost upwards of 1,000 taka in the private sector.
Beyond the equipment crisis, the hospital faces critical staff shortages. Despite being upgraded from a 100-bed to a 250-bed facility in 2017, the human resources structure remains inadequate. The hospital currently operates with only 20 doctors against an authorized strength of 371, and 160 nurses compared to the sanctioned 340 positions.
The hospital’s administration has repeatedly sought intervention from the Ministry of Health. Former Superintendent Md. Shahidullah sent a formal request for budget allocation to clear the debts as recently as June 12, 2025. Previous oversight committees from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) verified that the equipment remained functional during inspections conducted in the 2023-24 fiscal year.
Current Superintendent Nure Newaz attributed the ongoing crisis to systemic administrative negligence. Representatives from Messers Micro Traders confirmed that the full contract amount remains unpaid, though they stated they are no longer aware of the current condition of the locked machinery.
Health department officials in the Rangpur division recently concluded an investigation into the matter, confirming that the equipment was withheld by the contractors due to the payment dispute. Local civil society leaders have criticized the situation as both a massive waste of public funds and a direct violation of the healthcare rights of the 2 million people who rely on the hospital for essential medical services.
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