Chattogram International Medical College (CIMC) has announced plans to build a new 1,000-bed hospital as part of its expansion of healthcare services and to mark its international accreditation.
The announcement was made at a press conference held at the college conference hall on Saturday (September 19) as part of an “International Accreditation Celebration.”
The press conference was told that the Bangladesh Medical Education Accreditation Council (BMEAC) was established after the Accreditation Act was passed in Parliament in 2022. The council's main objective was to strengthen the position of Bangladeshi medical graduates internationally.
According to the speakers, accreditation is essential for Bangladeshi medical graduates seeking higher education, training and professional opportunities in countries including the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. They said almost all neighbouring countries, including Sri Lanka, India, Nepal and Pakistan, have already obtained such recognition.
The press conference said that institutions failing to obtain BMEAC accreditation by 2026 would have students unable to pursue higher education and professional practice abroad. Of the country's 124 public, private and army medical colleges, 21 initially applied for accreditation.
Following evaluation, Dhaka Medical College and Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College received accreditation in the first phase. Chattogram Medical College, Armed Forces Medical College and North East Medical College received recognition in the second phase.
Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, Sylhet Women's Medical College and Chattogram International Medical College were among three institutions accredited in the third phase. With these additions, the total number of medical colleges in Bangladesh receiving global accreditation has reached eight, the press conference was told.
CIMC is now in its 13th year. The college has organised four international scientific conferences, where medical researchers from 15 countries presented research papers. It also has memorandums of understanding with universities in Malaysia, Turkey, China and Thailand.
The college currently operates a 500-bed hospital with 21 departments, treating between 500 and 700 outpatients daily. The hospital is frequently operating at full capacity, forcing staff to turn away patients because of a shortage of beds. Ten percent of patients receive treatment completely free of charge.
The press conference said construction of another 1,000-bed hospital has become necessary to cope with the growing patient demand. Paperwork for the Tk 300 crore project has already begun.
As financing the project entirely from the institution's own resources would be difficult, the organisers sought assistance from the government, donor organisations and financially capable members of society.
The same campus has also housed the country's largest private dental college and a 65-unit dental hospital for the past 22 years. The dental hospital treats an average of 150 patients a day. A nursing college has also been operating on the campus for the past eight years.
Professor Dr A.Q.M. Mohsen, president of the Bangladesh Gastroenterology Society and chief adviser to CIMC, attended the press conference as chief guest.
Also present were Dr A.K.M. Fazlul Haque, chairman of the executive committee and president of the governing body; Dr Khurshid Jamil Chowdhury, a member of the Chattogram Medical University Syndicate; Executive Secretary Professor Md Nurunnabi; former principal and academic adviser Professor Dr Md Tipu Sultan; and Vice-Principal Professor Dr Muslima Akter.
