Doctor shortage hampers treatment
Patients are deprived of proper healthcare services at the 100-bed Bagerhat Sadar Hospital due to shortage of doctors.
“Now there are only 13 doctors working at the hospital while we have to provide treatment for around 500 outdoor patients, in addition to around 150 admitted patients on an average daily,” said Dr Moshiur Rahman, resident medical officer (RMO) of the hospital.
“We have informed our higher authorities of the problem on several occasions. But no initiative has been taken to solve the problem,” he said.
Visiting the hospital recently, the correspondent found many patients waiting to meet doctors.
“After coming here at around 9:00pm I bought ticket at an outdoor counter and they told me to go to room No 123. But I found the room locked,” said Abdur Sabur, 60, a patient with respiratory diseases.
Another patient Hemayet Paik, 45, said he had come to the hospital with fever at about 10:00am. But he could not meet any doctor till 1:00pm.
Kabir Sheikh, 35, came for treatment of his son but he was preparing to return home after failing to meet any doctor.
“This is a regular picture at the hospital,” said Nojir Sheikh, a local resident.
The hospital started with 50-bed capacity in 1970.
It was upgraded to a 100-bed one in 1999 but required manpower was not added.
“Adding to the problem, eleven posts of doctors at the hospital are lying vacant now. But the higher authorities are not taking any measure for appointment to these posts,” said Dr GK Shamsuzzaman, civil surgeon of the district.
The vacant posts includes -- senior consultants of orthopaedic, surgery, gynaecology, eye, and anaesthesia, junior consultants of child and radiology, two medical officers and pathologist.
“Moreover, a junior consultant (anaesthesia) of the hospital has remained absent without the permission of the authorities. We have already completed all the procedure to take departmental action against him,” said the civil surgeon.
“We are struggling hard with the small manpower to provide medical services to people.,” he added.
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