20 friends’ ‘hospital of the poor’ in Chauddagram, where treatment does not stop for want of money

Photo: Collected

Munshirhat Bazar — a well-known rural locality in Chauddagram upazila of Cumilla. This bazar is one of the centres of education, health and economic activity for the people of several surrounding villages. Although people come and go here every day, there had long been worry over the cost of medical treatment. Bearing the cost of treatment often became difficult, especially for low-income and poor people.

Twenty friends from this very area dreamt of changing that reality. Some of them are doctors, some teachers, some bankers, and others businessmen. All are established in their respective fields. But instead of staying in the city and being busy only with their own lives, they thought of doing something for the people of their own area. From that thought they built Munshirhat Clinic, which has now come to be known among local people as the ‘hospital of the poor’.

Their aim was that no one’s treatment should stop for want of money. Extra costs would not be imposed on patients by carrying out unnecessary tests in the name of treatment. The cost of treatment would not be inflated by recommending tests or medicines in exchange for commission. Rather, quality medical care within people’s means would be delivered to the doorstep of the villagers.

According to local and clinic sources, the clinic was established at the initiative of 20 entrepreneurs. Six of the entrepreneurs are doctors. About 15 more doctors see patients here along with them. Almost all of the doctors are residents of this area. Doctors from various surrounding villages, including Basanda, Jugirhat, Meshtala, Chanpur, Bishoybhag, Phulmuri, Kadghar, Kanakpur, Shubhapur, Anandapur and Khiranshal, have also joined this initiative.

As a result, a kind of family relationship has developed between the doctors and the patients. Just as the doctors know the people of the area, in many cases they also know the patient’s financial and family circumstances.

On a visit to Munshirhat Clinic, a considerable crowd of patients was seen. Alongside well-off people, many low-income and helpless people had also come for treatment. For them, the matter of treatment costs is very different here.

One such patient is Kamal Hossain. He once pulled a rickshaw, and now, weighed down by age, lives a retired life. Although his food is provided by his children’s families, meeting the cost of treatment is hard for him. But on coming to this clinic, besides getting a doctor’s advice, he also received arrangements for the necessary tests and medicines free of cost.

Like Kamal Hossain, many patients receive free services here every day. According to the clinic authorities’ estimate, about one-third of all patients get free treatment facilities in one way or another.

Local residents Shafiqur Rahman of Satbaria, Hasan Hazari of Phulmuri, Kazi Nazrul Islam Nazir of Jugirhat, Din Mohammad of Kanakpur and Akmilma Begum of the same village said no one’s treatment stops here for want of money. As the doctors are all from the area, they are also acquainted with the patients. Those who cannot afford it are given treatment free of cost. Needless tests are not prescribed either.

Yasmin Akter, an assistant teacher at Munshirhat High School, said most of the entrepreneurs of this hospital are their former students. Many of them could have lived well in the city had they wished. But they have stayed in the village and become involved in providing medical care to the people of the area. This is truly an exceptional initiative.

She further said that even the bills charged to well-off patients are generally lower than the market rate. Again, half or even the full bill is waived in consideration of a person’s financial condition.

Dr Md Abu Zafar, managing director of Munshirhat Clinic, said the entrepreneurs and doctors are all people of this area. They themselves are well-off. But many people in the area cannot afford expensive treatment. So the initiative to provide medical care at low cost was taken with ordinary people in mind.

He further said those who cannot afford the cost of treatment are given treatment free of cost. If a patient has a complicated problem, treatment elsewhere is also arranged with assistance from the patient welfare fund. Service, not business, is what matters most to us. Even after giving so many concessions, Alhamdulillah, the hospital is running well.