Mammography machine at CMCH out of order for 3yrs

Crucial breast cancer screening at Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) has remained unavailable for nearly three years after the hospital's lone mammography machine went out of order in 2022.

The health ministry in 2016 procured two machines from Italy at a cost of over Tk 3.32 crore, allocating one each to CMCH and Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. At CMCH, the machine stayed boxed for nearly a year before being commissioned in August 2018 and installed at the Radiology and Imaging Department.

Although it had a three-year warranty, hospital records show it functioned for only about two years. It first malfunctioned five months after installation, went out of order again three months after repairs, and has remained non-functional since December 17, 2022.

Before breaking down, the machine provided affordable screening at Tk 400 to Tk 800.

"I heard the fee is much lower than private facilities, where they charge Tk 1,500 to Tk 3,000. But when I came, staff said the service is suspended," said Shanta Chowdhury (pseudonym), a patient.

Another patient, Swapna Talukdar (pseudonym), shared a similar experience.

Brigadier General Taslim Uddin, director of CMCH, said they contacted the supplier but were told the required parts were unavailable. "We have requested the CMSD to purchase a new machine, as we have no alternative," he said.

Kamol Krishna Majumder, manager of supplier NewTech GT Limited, said they tried but failed to source components from Europe.

"The model is now obsolete," he said.

SM Nazer Hossain, central vice-president of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh, criticised the prolonged suspension. "A vital test should not remain halted for years. This is unacceptable," he said.