Treatment too scanty as most of docs' posts vacant
Patients in the district are deprived of proper treatment at Kurigram Sadar Hospital due to a shortage of doctors and nurses for a long time.
Though the former 100-bed hospital was upgraded to a 250-bed one, it is being run by the earlier medical staffing because approval has not yet been given for hiring extra staff for the larger 250-bed hospital.
A large number of patients from nine upazilas under Kurigram district come to the hospital, but they do not get proper treatment due to the staff shortage, hospital sources said.
Even according to the previous staffing plan, 23 doctor posts out of 42, and 32 posts for other staff out of 96 have long been vacant.
Six senior consultant posts covering geriatrics, surgery, dermatology, gynaecology, anaesthetics and ophthalmology; six junior consultant posts covering geriatrics, surgery, radiology, dermatology, gynaecology and ophthalmology; and 13 other medical officer posts are vacant, sources said.
The hospital authorities often refer serious patients to Rangpur Medical College Hospital due to the lack of specialists.
About 700 to 1200 patients are treated as outpatients while 170 to 200 patients are admitted for hospitalisation every day, said Dr Nazrul Islam, resident medical officer of the hospital.
"Besides my official work, I have to perform duties for outpatients and inpatients daily due to the shortage of doctors. Sometimes I have to work in the emergency ward too,” he said.
During a recent visit to Kurigram Sadar Hospital, this correspondent observed around 50 patients waiting to see the medicine consultant, Dr Helal Mia. Similar was the case with other doctors offering general consultancy.
Abdul Majid Master, 45, of Belgachha union under Sadar upazila, said he came to the hospital with an eye problem, but he had to return without treatment as there is no eye specialist.
“I have to treat 150 to 200 outpatients every day, and work two or three days a week in the emergency ward. I feel very tired. The medical officers would get some much needed relief if the posts for physicians are filled," said paediatrician Dr Ummey Kulsum Beauty.
Comments