Healthcare limping due to shortage of doctors
Lalmonirhat Sadar Hospital cannot provide healthcare to the patients due to a shortage of doctors.
The 100-bed hospital is running with only one medical officer against 24 posts, five junior consultant doctors against 18 posts, and only one doctor against 26 posts for surgeons and specialists.
Centenarian Fazlur Rahman was taken back home from the hospital yesterday as he didn't get proper heath care due to the lack of doctors. This elderly man from Teesta River char village Kalmati in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila was admitted to the hospital with bronchitis a week ago, but no doctor gave him treatment at the hospital.
“I admitted my father to the government hospital in the hope of getting proper treatment, but it was a wrong decision,” said Fazlur's son Razzak Ali, 56.
Ataur Rahman, 56, a patient from Gokunda in Sadar upazila, said “Only nurses provide treatment and support, and no medical officer came to see me. I don't know how I can get treatment here."
Nili Begum, 46, wife of Noor Islam of Hiramanik village under the upazila, was admitted to the hospital six days ago, but the medical officer saw her only twice. "Now there is a common slogan in the hospital, 'no doctor, no medicine, no support,' " she said.
Masum Bakshi, 50, of Hospital Road in the town, said patients are crying out to get proper treatment from the government hospital. "The people here are poor, so most of them are dependent on the government hospital as they get treatment free of cost,” he added.
Dr Azmal Haque, the lone medical officer in the hospital, said “I'm alone here, I maintain the office, I handle emergencies and I maintain outpatients treatment and admissions. Is it possible for me to do everything? No, of course it is not possible."
Dr Nuruzzaman Ahmed, the superintendent of the hospital, said “I wrote several letters to the DG health, asking for doctors, but I have not received any response.” He says it is imperative to post more doctors in the hospital to ensure health care service to poor people.
Dr Ahsan Ali, Lalmonirhat civil surgeon, said people are not getting proper healthcare facilities due to the lack of doctors and medical officers. “I also wrote to the DG health, asking for doctors, but I have not received any reply," he added.
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