Corporate business at donation-funded hospital

Ahsania Mission Cancer and General Hospital collects zakat and donations in the name of providing treatment and welfare services to patients. It also receives substantial funds every year from public and private organisations, institutions and individuals.

However, former officials and insiders allege that a portion of the money is deposited in banks rather than being spent directly on patient care, generating interest income. They also allege that funds collected by the mission have been invested in businesses operated by the organisation.

At the same time, patients seeking treatment at Ahsania Mission Cancer and General Hospital reportedly have to pay fees comparable to those charged by other leading private hospitals.

The hospital was established with the stated objective of providing cancer treatment and services to patients, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Former officials and insiders, however, say the institution has gradually moved away from its original focus on cancer treatment.

According to them, mismanagement and an emphasis on revenue generation have weakened the hospital's specialised cancer services. As a result, the scope of cancer treatment is shrinking while the hospital is increasingly focusing on treatment of other diseases.

Hospital earns Tk 30 crore monthly

The hospital began operations in 2001 as the Ahsania Mission Cancer Detection and Treatment Centre.

In 2014, it was renamed Ahsania Mission Cancer and General Hospital.

At the time, the Health Ministry provided a one-time grant of Tk 74 crore, while the Social Welfare Ministry provided Tk 39 crore.

According to hospital authorities, the institution received around Tk 3 crore annually in previous years in various forms of government support. It received more than Tk 2 crore last year and Tk 55 lakh so far this year, according to the available figures.

The hospital also receives more than Tk 2 crore in donations from individuals every year, while the Health Ministry provides another Tk 1 crore to Tk 1.5 crore annually, according to the information obtained.

The hospital therefore receives more than Tk 5 crore a year from government support and donations. However, hospital authorities declined to disclose the institution's total monthly income from its services.

Former directors and managing directors of the hospital told Asia Post that the hospital earns around Tk 30 crore a month from diagnostic services, bed charges, medicine sales and other services.

That would put its annual revenue from services at around Tk 360 crore.

Test and admission fees comparable to top private hospitals

Taslima Jahan, whose mother was treated at the hospital, said she took her mother there after she developed symptoms suspected to be related to liver cancer, hoping to receive treatment at a lower cost than at private hospitals.

But Taslima said she had to spend around Tk 30,000 on diagnostic tests during the first three days alone.

The daily bed charge was Tk 2,200, while the physician's consultation fee was Tk 1,000. She said the family spent around Tk 50,000 in five days, even though her mother's main treatment had not yet begun.

"There was no significant difference between this hospital and other private hospitals in terms of cost," Taslima said.

She questioned why a hospital supported by donations and charitable activities charges fees similar to those of commercial private hospitals.

Taslima's concern is echoed by other patients and their families who have sought treatment at the hospital.

According to the hospital's diagnostic fee schedule, it charges Tk 1,200 for a lipid profile, Tk 5,000 for a CT scan, Tk 3,000 for an iron profile, Tk 1,200 for ultrasonography and Tk 6,000 for a chest CT scan.

These charges are comparable to, and in some cases higher than, those charged by private diagnostic centres, according to comparisons made by Asia Post.

A technologist at the hospital said the fees for several tests were lower several years ago but had gradually increased.

"Everything has become business here," he said.

Medicines sold at market prices despite discounted procurement

The hospital also allegedly sells some medicines at market prices despite purchasing them from manufacturers at discounted rates.

For example, Meropenem 1g, an antibiotic, is sold in the market for around Tk 1,235. According to information obtained by Asia Post, a manufacturer supplied the medicine to Ahsania Mission at Tk 700, reportedly as part of a discounted arrangement intended to benefit patients.

However, the hospital sold it to patients for Tk 1,235, according to the information.

Similarly, Nupenem, another antibiotic used in critical care, was reportedly purchased for Tk 700 but sold to patients for Tk 1,238.

Former officials alleged that similar pricing practices were followed for other medicines supplied to the hospital at discounted rates.

Most ventilators reportedly remain dysfunctional

The 350-bed hospital has 15 ICU beds, each equipped with a ventilator. However, Asia Post found allegations that many of the ventilators remain out of service for extended periods.

As a result, some critically ill patients reportedly return home or are transferred elsewhere because ventilator support is unavailable. There have also been allegations of deaths linked to the shortage of functional ventilators, although the hospital did not provide independent data establishing such a connection.

ICU in-charge Dr Zakaria told Asia Post, "The authority knows about the ventilator crisis. As a physician, I have to provide treatment according to the facilities available."

Patients wait months for radiotherapy

Fatima Begum, from Bhaluka upazila of Mymensingh, was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and was referred to Dhaka for specialised treatment.

After receiving treatment at several hospitals, she came to Ahsania Mission Cancer and General Hospital hoping to receive treatment at a lower cost.

However, she faced difficulties obtaining a radiotherapy appointment.

On July 16, Fatima was seen requesting hospital officials for a radiotherapy appointment. She said she had been trying for three days but was unable to obtain a date within the following month.

Her experience is reportedly shared by many cancer patients who have been waiting for months for radiotherapy services.

The hospital has four radiotherapy machines installed in 2014. However, Dr Arup of the Radiology Department told Asia Post that only four machines are currently operational, while another five are dysfunctional.

"There is a shortage of functional machines while the pressure of patients is high," he said.

Allegations of inadequate nursing skills

The hospital has more than 200 nurses. Former employees and patients have alleged that some nurses lack adequate skills and training.

There are also allegations that some nurses have difficulty performing routine procedures, including inserting intravenous cannulas.

Asked about the allegations, Brig Gen (retd) Dr Abdullah Al Mamun said, "I don't know what happened in the past. But after I joined, skilled nurses have been appointed."

Zakat and donation money allegedly invested in businesses

Former directors and managing directors of the hospital told Asia Post that money collected as zakat and donations was deposited in fixed deposit receipts (FDRs), generating interest income.

They also alleged that the mission's funds were used in businesses, including a fashion house and a Hajj agency.

One former director said the mission authority deposited Tk 8 crore in zakat funds as an FDR with a bank. He alleged that the deposit was made without approval from the governing body.

According to the former director, the hospital previously used donated funds directly for poor patients, but the mission authorities later instructed the hospital to transfer the money to the mission office instead.

The former director also alleged that the mission authority subsequently deposited the money in banks.

Asia Post attempted to contact Ahsania Mission Chairman Professor Dr Golam Rahman for comment, but he could not respond because he was ill and hospitalised.

Mission Treasurer Dr M A Jalil denied that zakat money was invested in businesses.

"It is not true that the mission used zakat money in businesses," he told Asia Post. "Donation money may be kept as FDR."

He acknowledged that the organisation operates a fashion house and a Hajj agency but denied that donation money had been invested in those businesses.

What hospital authorities say

Hospital Director Brig Gen Dr Abdullah Al Mamun defended the hospital's charges, saying the fees are necessary to keep the institution operational.

"Taking charges from patients is only for sustaining the hospital. If we spend Tk 100, we have to earn Tk 100. Without earning, how can the institution be sustained?" he said.

He said the hospital has a large number of doctors, nurses and other employees whose salaries must be paid every month.

The director also said he would investigate allegations of excessive charges and take action if any irregularities were found.

Md Mohsin, Joint Secretary of the Health Ministry, told Asia Post, "Everything is not within our knowledge. We must inquire into the matter."