Sher-e-Bangla Medical College

Sher-e-Bangla Medical College located in the south-eastern part of Barisal town on the bank of river Kirtonkhola, the college started functioning in 1968 as Barisal Medical College, though the foundation stone was laid in 1964. It was renamed as Sher-e-Bangla Medical College after the name of late Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq hailing from Barisal. The college is affiliated to the University of Dhaka; recognised by the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council. The General Medical Council (GMC) of UK recognises the MBBS degree obtained by the students of this college.

There are 11 major departments in the college; these include: Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Community Medicine, Pharmacology, Forensic Medicine, Pathology, Microbiology, Medicine (including Paediatrics, Psychiatry, Dermatology and Venereal Diseases, Physical Medicine, Cardiology, Nephrology, Neuro-medicine and other sub-specialities), Surgery (including Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology, Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Paediatric Surgery, Anaesthesiology, Dentistry, Blood Transfusion, Radiology, Radiotherapy and other sub-specialities), and Obstetrics and Gynaecology. The Principal is the head of the institution. The other staff members include one vice principal, 21 professors, 28 associate professors, 29 assistant professors, 2 curators, 44 lecturers, 6 medical officers, 1 secretary, and 188 paramedics and auxiliary staff.

The college has an area of about 33 ha. Student dormitories, nursing institute, nurses' training institute, dormitory for staff nurses, and residences of teachers are situated on the college campus. The teaching hospital of the college is the attached Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, with 500 beds, and indoor and outdoor facilities. The head of the hospital is a Director. The hospital entertains about 30,000 patients annually. There are 296 nurses, 25 medical technologists and 17 pharmacists in the hospital. One Deputy Director, one Store Officer, one Administrative Officer and 470 auxiliary staff assist the Director in the management of the Hospital.

The college conducts 5-year undergraduate medical education course leading to MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery). One-year internship after graduation is compulsory for registration. The University of Dhaka conducts three professional MBBS examinations viz, First, Second and Final at the end of 2nd, 4th and 5th year respectively to confer the MBBS degree. One hundred and fifty students are admitted into the college every year. Besides, there are reserved seats for the dependants of the Freedom Fighters, tribal students and foreign students. At present 38 foreign students from Nepal, India, Pakistan, Palestine, Sudan and Somalia are studying in the college. The college provides post-graduate training for various FCPS, Masters, and Diploma courses. [Md Abdul Latif]