Patients go back for want of doctors

Treatment seekers return frustrated from Lalmonirhat Sadar Hospital on Monday as the government-run hospital with most of the doctors' posts vacant can provide services to only a small number of patients. PHOTO: STAR

As many as 86 posts of doctors in the government-run hospitals and health complexes in the district have remained vacant for long, much to the sufferings of treatment seekers.
Patients coming to Lalmonirhat Sadar Hospital and other upazila health complexes for getting outdoor treatment free of cost are often frustrated due to shortage of doctors, locals said.
Poor patients, especially from char (landmass emerged from riverbed) villages in the Teesta and Dharla basin areas, are the worst sufferers.
Posts of 50 doctors at Lalmonirhat Sadar Hospital, 10 at Kaliganj upazila health complex, nine each at Aditmari and Hatibandha upazila health complexes and eight at Patgram upazila health complex are vacant, said sources at Lalmonirhat Civil Surgeon's office.
Besides, there are only 54 staffs against 122 posts in those hospitals.
“We have to serve both outdoor and indoor patients although only 14 doctors are working here against 64 posts. Some 550 to 600 outpatients come for treatment daily. Sometimes patients and their attendants become annoyed as we cannot give proper attention to them,” said Dr tapon Kumar Roy, resident medical officer of Lalmonirhat Sadar Hospital.
Dr Hafizur Rahman, in-charge of the Children's Ward of the hospital, said, “We get exhausted to deliver service to so many patients here. More doctors as well as room are needed in this ward and we earlier informed the civil surgeon of the matter.”
Dr Jahangir Alam Sarker, civil surgeon of Lalmonirhat, said, "I officially informed the higher authorities of the doctors' shortage in the hospitals in the district. We hope the vacant posts will be filled up shortly to ensure proper health services to the people."