BARISAL, Oct 22: People of six districts under the division, particularly those residing in rural areas, are being deprived of quality healthcare facilities due to lack of sufficient number of physicians including specialist and experienced ones.
As per the divisional Department of Health, there are two medical college hospitals, 5 district Sadar hospitals, 40 upazila health complexes, 70 sub-health centres and 266 union health centres for rendering healthcare facilities to about one crore people of six districts under Barisal division.
Not only that, there are 1,061 posts of doctors in the division, but out of those 507 posts are vacant. Now 554 doctors are working at different health organisations in the division; but out of them 285 are fresh appointees from 33rd batch of Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS).
Deputy Director of the divisional Department of Health Dr ATM Mizanur Rahman said there are sufficient numbers of healthcare organisations in Barisal division, but fewer numbers of doctors. As a result, people are being deprived of proper healthcare services.
People of Barguna district are the worst sufferers as only 46 doctors out of 141 are working at different medical centres there and 95 posts have remained vacant; in Patuakhali, there are 229 posts of doctors, but now 111 are working and 118 posts are vacant; in Pirojpur, there are 166 posts but 84 doctors are working now and 82 posts have remained vacant; in Bhola, there are 200 posts but 101 doctors are working now and 99 posts are vacant; in Barisal district, out of 223 posts of doctors, 149 are working now and 74 posts have remained vacant; in Jhalakati, there are 102 posts of doctors but 63 are working now and 39 posts are vacant.
Meanwhile, the conditions of Sher-E-Bangla Medical College and Hospital (SBMCH) and Barisal Sadar Hospital are better than those of the rural health centres.
There are 79 posts of registers, assistant registers and medical officers, while 64 are working. On the other hand, there are 18 posts of doctors in Barisal Modern General Hospital and 16 doctors are working now.