Shortage of doctors cripples health service in Patuakhali
Health service in Patuakhali is limping amid severe manpower crisis as 69 doctors are presently working against 228 posts at different health institutions including hospital, health complex and health centres in the district’s eight upazilas.
A recent visit of this reporter at different health complexes as well as data received from the district civil surgeon’s office depicted a grim picture.
The 250-bed Patuakhali General Hospital was running with 20 doctors when the busy hospital in the district headquarters was supposed to have 58 doctors.
The hospital authority said they could allow only two doctors to treat outdoor patients.
The only medical officer’s post both at Police Hospital and Patuakhali District Jail is vacant while one of the two posts in Patuakhali TB Hospital remains vacant.
Crisis of doctors is more severe in eight upazilas of the district.
In Sadar upazila, only one medical officer is working at union level Family Welfare Centre (FWC) against 12 designated posts. Although six posts are vacant officially, the other five medical officers have been working at Patuakhali General Hospital and at Patuakhali Medical College Hospital on deputation.
Dashmina Upazila Health Complex has got four doctors against the post of 15. This health complex’s gynaecology department won national award last year for providing better service to the patients.
“But the lone gynaecologist was transferred to another place on January 9 this year and we are yet to get a replacement. Now patients have to go to about 40-km away to Patuakhali district town or to Barishal for treatment,” said Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Golam Mostafa.
Of the 12 doctors against 36 posts in Kalapara Upazila Health Complex, one has been on leave to attend a training course while another physician was working at the National TB Hospital in Dhaka.
The 20-bed Kuakata hospital has got only one doctor against six posts.
The 50-bed Baufal Upazila Health Complex has got 12 doctors againout of 24 posts. More pressingly the 11 FWC’s have no medical officer when each union level FWC was designated to have one medical officer.
Almost a similar situation prevails in Galachipa, Dumki and Mirzaganj upazilas where the health complexes and union level FWCs are running with much less than required number medical officers.
In the 50-bed Mirzaganj Upazila Health Complex, only five doctors are working against 21 posts. Of them two doctors -- Dr Sohana Afroj Sayeed and Dr Kudrat-A-Ahsan Ullah – are absent from their workplace since May 14 in 2017. They were served show-cause notice but no replacement has been done yet.
“We are trying our best to provide treatment to patients despite shortage of doctors,” said Saiduzzaman, SACMO of Patuakhali General Hospital where he works on deputation.
There are 80 health service provider institutions in Patuakhali district, which includes a 250-beed general hospital at the district town, five 50-bed upazila health complexes, one 31-bed health complex, two 20-bed hospitals, 12 health sub-centres and 56 union FWCs, according to the district Civil Surgeon’s office source.
Contacted, Dr Shah Mozahedul Islam, the district civil surgeon, said, “On several occasions, I informed the higher authorities about the situation and requested taking steps for appointment of doctors to the vacant posts.”
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