Patients suffer due to doctor shortage

Poor patients seeking medical care at the Chandpur Matlab Uttar Upazila Health Complex have been deprived of adequate treatments due to an acute shortage of doctors at the hospital.

The 50-bed hospital for a population of 400,000 in 14 unions of the upazila has only four doctors out of the 10 sanctioned posts for physicians.

The hospital lacks a gynaecologist, paediatrician, dentist, surgeon, and orthopaedist. Pregnant mothers with acute labour pains are the worst victims of the doctor shortage at the hospital. Some of them from remote char areas seek treatment after crossing the turbulent Meghna River and its tributaries. But, due to an absence of gynochologist, they have to turn back and take treatment at costly private clinics.

Moreover, upon a visit to the hospital the FE correspondent has seen that all the equipment in the operation theatre of the hospital have been getting rusty. Hospital sources said the equipments have been getting unfit for further use.

The resident medical officer of the hospital is supposed to stay at the hospital, but he allegedly takes leaves without informing other hospital staff and remains absent "on most of the days".

Hospital sources said that the sole ambulance at the hospital does not have a driver since 2021 and it frequently goes out of order. The hospital's X-Ray machine is also out of order for a long time and currently there is no operator to operate it.

The hospital has only one medical technologist, who is given the work of four people as there are four sanctioned posts for such technologist at the hospital, hospital sources said.

Three out of the five sanctioned posts for cleaners have been remaining vacant. With only two cleaners working, the hospital premises, floors and rooms are not cleaned regularly, sources said. Visible garbage spread at the hospital

here and there poses a health hazard.

Motiur Rahman, a drug trader who sits at a pharmacy adjacent to the hospital, said that patients from remote places often say they are disappointed in the hospital for the lack of doctors; X-Ray facilility; staff; and inoperation of the ambulance.

Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Mahbubur Rahman said he has informed the higher authortities about the problems of the hospital.

maayerbadhon @gmail.com