People suffer as Khulna health complexes in poor health

People in the district hardly get necessary health services as the upazila health complexes are beset with multiferious problems.
Almost all the health complexes in the district, including those in Rupsha, Dighalia and Terokhada upazilas, are unable to provide elementary treatment to the patients for acute shortage of medical and other staff and lack of related equipment and other logistics.
Some health complexes have X-ray machines but no technician to operate those while some have technician but no X-ray machine.
Defying the government instruction, many doctors of the upazila health complexes live in Khulna city.
As a result, the upazila level public hospitals are failing to render necessary health services to the common people.
DR ABM Golam Faruq Sarwar, health and family planning officer at Rupsha upazila health complex, said two posts of night guards are vacant in the health complex, leaving its security at risk.
There is an ambulance but no one to drive it. The pathological laboratory remains closed for long for absence of a health technician.
The posts of residential medical officer, medical consultant and surgery consultant are lying vacant for long, sources said.
In Batiaghata health complex, only two people are employed against nine sanctioned posts.
Only one guard is posted for maintaining security of the entire complex, health official Dr Shushanta Kumar Roy said. Terokhada health complex has neighther X-ray machine nor any technician.
Although the 50-bed health complex was inaugurated by the local MP, it has not yet got the administrative approval. As a result, the health complex is running with its earlier 31-bed status.
Against 15 posts sanctioned, only five officials are working at the health complex, upazila health official Dr Abdul Naser said.
Patients at Dakope health complex are being deceived by a group, locals alleged.
The health officer of the hospital has a private clinic at Gallamari in the city.
Since there is no good treatment at the health complex, the patients are transferred from there to the clinic.
Koira health complex is virtually held hostage by a few employees of the health complex.
Dumuria health complex has an X-ray technician but no X-ray operator.
Digholia health complex health officer Dr Ishaq Ali said there is one consultant at the gynecology department of the hospital but no consultant in other departments.
At Phultala health complex, the lone X-ray machine has remained out of order for the last 12 years.
Paikgachha health complex also faces an acute crisis of manpower.
Health officer Dr Abul Fazal said, although the 50-bed health centre was approved in December 2009, the project is yet to be put under the revenue sector.
Alongside the unhealthy condition at the nine upazila health complexes in Khulna, the picture of Khulna University Hospital is also nothing different.
The acting chief health officer at the Khulna University Hospital is allegedly employed at a private office  in the city.