CMCH limps due to manpower shortage
Although Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH), the lone tertiary-level hospital in greater Chattogram region, has stepped into its 66th year, it is still afflicted with a lack of workforce and logistics.
Only 343 doctors are currently employed at the 2,200-bed hospital. According to CMCH sources, the establishment gradually increased total beds, from 500 to the current number, over the decades, but the number of doctors remained the same.
The hospital had 437 nursing staffers five years ago; however, new appointments in the past few years have increased that number to 1,228. But CMCH officials said 1,228 nurses are not enough for a 2,200-bed hospital.
Apart from the workforce shortage, the hospital also lacks an adequate number of third- and fourth-class employees.
According to CMCH sources, 173 of 565 posts for third- and fourth-class employees are vacant as new appointments haven't been made over the years.
Besides, the hospital doesn't even provide vital medicines to patients. Although the hospital has a pharmacy, which sells medicines at subsidised prices, many drugs remain unavailable, and patients often buy from pharmacies outside after falling prey to brokers. This cuts a deep hole into the pockets of poor service seekers.
According to CMCH sources, the hospital serves at least 3,300 admitted patients on average every day, 1,100 more than its bed capacity.
During a recent visit to the hospital, it was seen that many patients were being treated on the floor in different wards, as the beds were already occupied. Doctors and nurses were struggling to serve the huge number of patients.
Suffice to say, patients are facing difficulties to get proper service. Take for instance Tanvir Ahmed, who was attending to his father at the medicine unit of the facility.
"My father has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We rushed him to the hospital as he was suffering from breathing problems. But now, he's receiving treatment on the floor in this bone-chilling cold, which can deteriorate his condition," Tanvir said.
"The doctors and nurses are cordial, but they are struggling to cope with so many patients," he said. "The toilet of the ward is also unhygienic."
"The doctors advised my father to take antibiotics... twice a day for 10 days. I have to buy the tablets at Tk 40 per strip from outside, as it's unavailable at the hospital," he added.
Contacted, Ratan Kumar Nath, a nursing staff of CMCH and former general secretary of Chattogram's Diploma Nurses Association, said, "Nurses perform duties in three shifts, which means 409 out of 1,228 nurses have to serve 3,300 patients per shift."
Acknowledging the workforce shortage, CMCH Director Brig Gen Shamim Hasan said to appoint more doctors and other staff, the organogram will have to be changed. "We are working on preparing a new organogram."
He said they have sent a proposal to the health ministry to appoint 543 third- and fourth-class employees on an ad hoc basis.
About the shortage of beds, he said, "We have informed the higher authorities for constructing new buildings for the hospital."
"We also have a shortage of funds. We get a Tk 16-crore budget for each year, but if the budget can be increased to Tk 50 crore, we'll be able to deliver better service to patients," he mentioned.
CMCH started its journey as Anderkilla General Hospital in 1957 and was later shifted to its present location on KB Fazlul Quader Road in the city in 1960, with only 120 beds.
The hospital was upgraded to have 500 beds in 1969, 750 in 1996, 1,010 in 2001, 1,313 in 2013, and 2,200 in June 2022.