Syeda Begum from Kushtia has been receiving treatment for stomach cancer as an outpatient for more than five months but none of her prescribed drugs come from the hospital.

"We expected the hospital to give us some medicines but so far we have got nothing," said Hamidul Islam, Syeda Begum's elder son.

"We have to buy most of the drugs from drugstores outside at twice the usual price. In fact, most anti-cancer drugs are either smuggled in or are simply not available. We can only pray to God for a possible cure."

In a male ward on the first floor of the hospital, Md Siddique from Khailajar, Netrakona, faces a similar fate as he struggles with intestinal cancer.

The hospital has none of the drugs he has been prescribed and he cannot afford to buy even a single ampoule for the injection he needs so badly.

His brother, Abu Siddiue says the family has sold its last piece of land in order to pay for treatment. "Every time we are asked to fetch drugs we have to think of finding new ways of finding money to pay for them," he says.

The hospital pharmacist admitted: "We have a very small supply of drugs only four items - but they, too, often run out. So we have to determine who is in most need of the drugs."

A doctor who asked for his name to be withheld noted: "Drugs are really in short supply all year round. Frankly speaking, at the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital (NICRH) very few patients receive a full course of anti-cancer drugs, which are usually costly. In addition, because patients have to repeat doses over a period of weeks or months, many lose patience and return home without completing their treatment."

An NICRH employee said that "many of the drugs are also sold outside by hospital staff in nearby drugstores. Ironically, patients who are supposed to get them free buy the same drugs. Such theft is very common, since anti-cancer drugs fetch high rates."

Prices of anti-cancer drugs at drugstores close to the hospital range from Tk 500 to Tk 10,000. The shops stock the most commonly prescribed drugs, often offering patients enough drugs for an entire course of treatment and charging for them all in advance.

Most of the storekeepers denied purchasing stolen drugs from the hospital and said they rely on smugglers for supplies.

Nargis Amin from city's Uttara is another patient who has to

purchase anti-cancer drugs from outside the hospital: "I have not received a single injection for my treatment. I have to buy every dose and doctors, nurses and wardboys often advise us to buy the drugs from drugstores which they recommend."

Professor A M M Shariful Alam, Director of NICRH, said, "Yes, it is true that the supply of drugs at NICRH is insufficient. Different patients receive different

protocols for treatment of cancer but we do not always have enough supplies of all drugs, which is why patients do not get complete treatment."

He said he should have authority to order drugs in order to ensure that supplies were adequate. Supplies from the central medical stores and depot (CMSD) were not consistent with need.

The CMSD Director, Brigadier General Abul Kalam Azad, instructed Abdul Matin, who is in charge of drug distribution, to provide information about the supply of anti-cancer drugs to NICRH, but when contacted by The Daily Star, Matin refused to do so. He also refused to comment on allegations of regular theft of drugs from the CMSD store.