Dinajpur Correspondent:
Dinajpur district in the north of the country has become a new haven of trust for heart disease patients due to the two reasons of complications in obtaining Indian visas and economic crisis – the trend of going abroad for treatment has decreased. Patients complain that although it was initially a worry because it was not easy to get a visa, it has now become a blessing for them. Because now they are getting advanced treatment at a low cost in the country, which would have been 5-6 times more expensive if they had gone abroad.
Dinajpur Medical College Hospital (DMIC) and other private hospitals in the district have seen a noticeable increase in the number of heart disease patients recently. The hospital authorities said that the number of patients is significantly higher compared to last year.
Shahin Alam of Ranipur in Dinajpur Sadar Upazila could not initially go to India due to visa complications and financial crisis. After being admitted to the cardiology department of DMIC Hospital, a pacemaker was successfully implanted in his heart on September 24, just a week after he was admitted to the cardiology department of DMIC Hospital. His father Azim Uddin said that in India, this treatment would have cost 5 to 6 lakh taka, but at the government hospital in Dinajpur, it cost only 1 lakh 75 thousand taka.
Arman Ali, who came from Pirganj in Thakurgaon, said that he was forced to come to Dimech Hospital for treatment after not getting a visa. The doctor inserted a ring in his heart. Excluding the cost of the ring, it cost me only 2 thousand taka! He said, “I would not have known that this treatment is so cheap in Bangladesh if I had got an Indian visa.”
Arman Ali’s father highly praised Professor Dr. Shahriar Kabir, head of the cardiology department of Dimech Hospital, as a good doctor. The cardiology department of the 500-bed Dimech Hospital has 90 beds. According to the hospital authorities, at least 80 patients are undergoing angiography here every month, 20 patients are having stents (heart rings) placed, and 10 patients are having pacemakers placed, which is much more than in previous years.
Professor Dr. Shahriar Kabir said that all the work like angiography, angioplasty, stenting and pacemaker installation is being done in this hospital. Only patients are being sent to Dhaka for bypass surgery. He emphasized, “Good treatment of heart disease is possible in the country, so there is no need to go abroad.”
Hospital director Dr. Md. Fazlur Rahman admitted that the number of heart patients coming here for treatment has increased as the tendency of patients to go to India has decreased. He also said that efforts are being made to increase medical equipment to serve the patients.
Apart from Dimek Hospital, the privately established Zia Heart Foundation Hospital and Care Specialized General Hospital in Dinajpur also have 50 cardiac beds. All heart disease treatments including bypass surgery, angiogram, angioplasty are done at Zia Heart Foundation Hospital.
Sahera Begum of Munshipara, Rangpur is now doing well after receiving prompt treatment at Zia Heart Foundation Hospital. He said, “I got quick treatment in the country. I didn’t have to go to India anymore. It feels good.”
AKM Azad, General Secretary of Zia Heart Foundation Hospital, said that this hospital, which started its operations in 2002, has gained popularity in the northern region due to its quick treatment services. So far, 126,151 patients have been treated here.
According to experts, this decision will not only save personal money for those who are trusting the country’s medical system and seeking treatment within the country due to visa complications, but will also create new confidence in the country’s health sector.
