Fake X-ray film in Fuji packaging, substandard tubes at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital: Two contractors accused

Fake X-ray film in Fuji packaging has been supplied to Rajshahi Medical College (Ramec) Hospital. Blood sample collection tubes of substandard quality have also been supplied. Two contractors are accused of doing this recently.

Hospital sources said a contracting firm run by Matiur Rahman received the work order to supply X-ray film. On September 26, the firm was given the work order to supply 200 packets of 10-by-14-inch and 85 packets of 14-by-17-inch X-ray film. The firm supplied the film on October 10 and submitted a bill of 7.25 million taka.

Although the supplied film packets carried the Fuji logo, Medi Graphic Trading Ltd, the sole distributor of Fuji film in Bangladesh, says the film is not theirs.

Confirming the matter, Rifat Hasan, deputy manager (sales and marketing) of Medi Graphic Trading Ltd, said, "We are the sole distributor of Fuji film in Bangladesh. Wherever Fuji film is supplied in the country, it goes through us. There is no other way it can come. But the film supplied to Ramec Hospital is not ours."

Rifat said fake film is made in various countries in Fuji packaging. It is available at 40 percent lower prices. They believe this film is of that kind. He said the quality of such film is very poor. The images on the film are ruined within a few days. Using such film also damages X-ray machines.

When asked, contractor Matiur Rahman said film is never fake. If there is a complaint, the hospital authorities can send the film to Dhaka for testing.

Asked where the film came from outside Medi Graphic Trading Ltd, the contractor said, "I am in Manikganj now. If we met in person, I could explain."

Sources said the film supplier was required to submit the authorisation papers of Medi Graphic Trading Ltd, the distributor in Bangladesh. But Matiur Rahman received the work order without submitting the company's authorisation papers. Citing urgent need, Dr Sabera Khatun, head of the pathology department, also consented to accept the substandard tubes.

Meanwhile, Gateway International, another contracting firm, is accused of supplying substandard vacutainer tubes. The firm had received the work to supply 250,000 tubes. It also received its work order on September 26 and supplied the tubes on October 10. It was supposed to supply JMI or ANC tubes. But of the 250,000, 140,000 China GR tubes were supplied.

Hospital sources say China GR tubes cost 30 percent less than JMI or ANC tubes. Gateway International has already submitted a bill of 2 million taka for the tubes.

When asked, Sohel Rana, proprietor of Gateway International, said, "JMI company tubes were supposed to be supplied. But at that time JMI stock was not available. And the hospital also urgently needed the goods. So GR goods were supplied after talking with the hospital. Later, JMI tubes were supplied."

Hospital sources further said the president of the tender evaluation committee for this purchase was the hospital's deputy director, Dr Hasanul Hasib. The member was the assistant director (finance), Dr Golam Rabbani. The contractors supplied the substandard goods by "managing" them, the sources said.

Regarding the allegations, Dr Hasanul Hasib, president of the tender evaluation committee, said, "These goods are procured through tender. If the papers are in order, they are taken. To know more than this, talk to the hospital spokesperson or the director."

Despite several calls from morning to noon yesterday, the hospital spokesperson, Dr Sheikh Shamim Ahmed, did not answer. Later, when the hospital director, Brigadier General P K M Masud-ul-Islam, was called, he asked to speak with the spokesperson. When told the spokesperson was not answering, the director said, "I have just spoken with him. I am telling him. He will answer." After that, despite several more calls, spokesperson Dr Sheikh Shamim Ahmed did not answer.