Established in 2016, Rajshahi Medical University (RMU) has yet to develop the capacity to offer postgraduate courses -- the core function of a medical university.
Without a campus of its own, the activities of the university largely remain limited to regulating undergraduate education at its affiliated public and private medical colleges, and nursing colleges and institutes.
A Tk 1,867-crore project was approved in June 2022 to develop the university’s infrastructure and build a 1,200-bed hospital, but work has yet to begin.
When it comes to workforce, the university has a vice-chancellor, a treasurer and 80 other employees at various levels, but no pro-vice chancellors or deans who play vital roles in providing academic leadership.
Not only RMU but also three other medical universities in Chattogram, Sylhet and Khulna -- all established between 2016 and 2021 -- are grappling with major operational shortcomings, leaving Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) as the country’s lone fully functional medical university.
These universities were set up with the aim of improving medical education, promoting research, and producing skilled professionals to strengthen the healthcare system.
However, the four universities are still far from becoming full-fledged institutions due to bureaucratic tangles, delays in initiating and implementing projects, and hurdles in acquiring land. Their functions are now largely limited to conducting exams and paperwork for undergraduate students of affiliated medical institutions, officials said.
None of them has any pro-vice chancellors or deans, as these positions must be filled with their own faculty members, said a health ministry official, seeking anonymity.
Against this backdrop, Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain, recently sat with the high-ups of the four universities and the BMU, and asked them to take steps to enhance academic capacity.
He also directed them to inform the ministry in writing about their problems and make recommendations on how the ministry can help address them, health ministry sources said.
Prof Liaquat Ali, a member of the now-defunct Health Sector Reform Commission, said the authorities should expedite the projects to make the universities fully functional.
“Once that happens, it will help produce skilled manpower and decentralise health services,” Liaquat, also a former vice-chancellor of Bangladesh University of Health Sciences, told The Daily Star.
At present, BMU, formerly known as Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), is the only full-fledged public medical institution offering a wide range of postgraduate courses, including MPhil programmes, alongside research and training since 1998. It also runs a large tertiary-care hospital in the capital.
Around 2,500 doctors are enrolled in these courses under BMU every year. Of the 1,56,750 registered doctors across the country, 22,460 hold postgraduate degrees, according to the Health Bulletin 2024 published early last month.
Apart from BMU, Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons, an autonomous professional body, offers postgraduate courses.
CTG MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
Since 2016, Chattogram Medical University (CMU), the country’s second medical university, has been operating from two floors in the main building of the Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases. From there, it oversees 51 public and private medical colleges, as well as nursing colleges and institutes in Chattogram division.
A Tk 1,859-crore project was approved in September 2023 to construct 27 buildings, including a 1,200-bed hospital on 24 acres of land at Fouzdarhat. But construction has not yet begun.
Farhad Rashid, executive engineer of CMU, said consultants have been hired, and the design drawing is now at the final stage.
The deadline for completing the project is June 2027, but it is likely to be missed, he told this correspondent, adding that a contractor will be hired soon.
Seeking anonymity, another CMU official said only 73 employees have been recruited so far, and the service rules and regulations are yet to be enacted.
RAJSHAHI MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
RMU runs its activities from two old buildings of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital and the first floor of the Regional Nursing and Midwifery Training Institute.
A project to build infrastructure for RMU and a hospital was approved in June 2022, around six years after its establishment as the country’s third medical university.
The proposed location of the university was changed a couple of years ago, and 68 acres of land were acquired in the Cityhut area.
Meanwhile, the project cost rose to Tk 2,258 crore from Tk 1,867 crore, and the deadline for its completion was extended by a year to June 2027.
When contacted, RMU Vice Chancellor Jawadul Haque said the tender process for constructing the administrative building has been completed, while that of other segments is underway.
He said a draft of the service rules and regulations has been sent to the health ministry for approval.
Replying to a question, the VC said that given the project’s progress, it may not be possible to introduce postgraduate courses within the next four years.
Jawadul said they have been conducting examinations for 72 public and private medical colleges, and nursing colleges and institutes in Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions.
He also mentioned that they sent a proposal to the health ministry, seeking authorisation to conduct postgraduate courses in RMU-affiliated medical colleges.
SYLHET MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
The country’s fourth medical university in Sylhet has been carrying out its activities from Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College since its inception in 2018.
Though the university has been able to formulate the necessary rules and regulations, its organogram has not yet been finalised. Apart from the VC and the treasurer, all other staffers are working on a contractual basis.
Following the approval of a Tk 2,036-crore project in July 2023, 68 acres of land were acquired in the South Surma area. The project deadline is June 2027.
SMU Vice Chancellor Ismail Patwary said the appointment of consultants is now at the final stage, and it will require at least three years to develop the structures.
Referring to the pending recruitment of employees at various levels, he said, “It may not be possible to start postgraduate courses within the next four to five years.”
KHULNA MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
Established in 2021 as the country’s fifth medical university, Sheikh Hasina Medical University was renamed Khulna Medical University (KMU) during the tenure of the interim government.
Currently, KMU operates from a rented house in Khulna city and regulates undergraduate courses of medical colleges and nursing institutes in Khulna division.
Talking to this newspaper last month, Ruhul Amin, the then vice chancellor of KMU, said a Tk 1,874-crore project was approved in 2024, and June 2027 was set as the deadline for developing infrastructure and constructing a 1,200-bed hospital.
Replying to a query, he said it was not possible to say when the university will be able to launch postgraduate courses, as it would take several years to complete the project.
He also suggested that the university should be authorised to offer postgraduate courses in medical colleges affiliated with it.
