Camellia Hospital shut for a month, tea workers without medical care

The Camellia Duncan Foundation Hospital in Moulvibazar's tea garden belt has remained closed for an entire month, leaving hundreds of thousands of tea workers and their families without access to medical care and creating a severe health crisis.

The hospital, which serves workers from approximately 35 tea estates across Moulvibazar and Habiganj districts, has been shut since March 27 following an attack by workers after the death of a teenage student.

Locals allege that at least ten people have died in the past month due to lack of primary healthcare. On April 25, Robi Chasha from Shamshernagar tea garden died after suffering a stroke. Others who allegedly died without proper treatment include Anil Rely, Madhuri Shah, Lakshmi Shah, Jugal Mirdha from Dobchara tea garden, and Basanti Rabidas from Kanihati tea garden.

Tea workers report they are completely deprived of emergency medical services. Many cannot afford to travel to distant hospitals for treatment. Pregnant women and critically ill patients are said to be at the highest risk.

The crisis began on March 26 when Oishi Rabidas, a 14-year-old seventh grader, died at the hospital after being admitted with severe headache and vomiting. Family members alleged medical negligence, claiming no doctor attended to her at night despite repeated requests.

The following day, enraged workers and locals vandalised the hospital, damaged furniture, confined doctors, and disrupted operations. Hospital authorities have denied negligence, stating they advised transferring the patient to another facility, but the family declined.

A doctor present during the incident later resigned in writing and left the hospital under police protection.

The 50-bed hospital, established in 1994, is operated by the UK-based Camellia Duncan Foundation and serves approximately 90,000 people across the group's tea estates. Before its closure, it annually treated about 7,500 out-patients and 1,600 in-patients.

Tea worker leader Sitaram Bean said, "Hundreds of thousands of people are deprived of healthcare due to the closure. Most workers cannot afford outside treatment. At least primary care could have saved many lives."

Dr Bahauddin, an assistant senior manager at the hospital, earlier told The Daily Star that the patient's guardians preferred to wait until morning rather than accept a referral at night. Hospital authorities maintain that Oishi received proper medical care.

Shamshernagar tea garden manager and Deputy General Manager of Duncan Brothers, Md Kamruzzaman, said the hospital needs to be reopened urgently, but since it is run by a separate foundation, the decision must come from England.

Kamalganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Asaduzzaman said a letter from England regarding the hospital's reopening was expected but has not yet arrived. "Once we receive the letter, the next decision will be known. We are also trying to reopen the hospital quickly from the administration's side," he said.