PATHARGHATA, BARGUNA, July 19: Healthcare services at Patharghata Upazila Health Complex in Barguna are being severely disrupted due to a critical shortage of doctors, staff and instruments.
The 50-bed hospital lacks facilities such as X-rays and other diagnostic services, forcing patients to travel to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barisal for treatment.
The dengue situation in Barguna District has reached an alarming level, with the virus assuming epidemic proportions. So far, over 150 dengue patients have been identified in Patharghata Upazila alone.
The situation has become so dire that doctors are struggling to cope with the influx of patients. Due to the severe doctor shortage, the health complex is unable to provide the expected level of service to patients.
According to sources at the health complex, there are currently 31 sanctioned posts for doctors and officers, but only four are currently serving.
The upazila health and family planning officer was recently transferred on deputation, and one junior consultant is on a year-long training programme. As a result, the hospital is now being run by just three active doctors.
There are supposed to be 10 junior consultants in departments such as surgery, medicine, gynaecology, anaesthesia, paediatrics, orthopaedics, cardiology, ophthalmology, dermatology, and ENT - but not a single one is currently in place. Additionally, although there are two sanctioned posts for pathologists, none are available. Of the three posts for medical officers, only one is filled.
There are five sanctioned positions for assistant surgeons (IMO, EMO, pathology, anaesthesia, radiology), but only one is staffed. The position of medical officer (Unani) is vacant. There are also six positions for union-level assistant surgeons, but none are filled.
At the Kalmagha Sub-Health Centre under the Upazila Health Complex, there is a sanctioned position for one medical officer, but it too is vacant, leaving the facility non-operational. The nursing supervisor post is also vacant. Out of 30 sanctioned senior staff nurse positions, only 22 are filled. For midwives, only 2 out of 5 posts are filled. In total, 82 out of 138 third- and fourth-class posts (including outsourced positions) are currently filled.
During a recent visit to the health complex, a large number of patients were seen crowding the hospital for receiving medical care. However, due to the lack of doctors, many left disappointed and frustrated. One lone doctor at the emergency department was seen attending one patient after another. Due to the lack of assistants and ward boys, that doctor had to manage tasks like administering injections and dressing wounds - struggling to provide care.
Patients were openly expressing anger over the lack of medical staff. Those who had been admitted to the hospital also complained of not receiving proper care. Due to shortages of nurses, attendants, and ward boys, the admitted patients are not receiving adequate treatment either.
Belayet Hossain and Aminul Islam, two patients who came seeking treatment for eye and skin diseases, had to leave without being treated because there were no doctors for those specialties. A mother named Asma Khatun came with her child only to learn that no paediatrician was available - and she too had to leave without receiving any service.
Dr. Rakhal Biswas, Acting Upazila Health & Family Planning Officer (Resident Medical Officer - RMO), said, "On an average, about 200 patients receive services daily from the outpatient department. But due to a lack of manpower, we're unable to serve all of them properly. We're seeing a high number of cases related to dengue, skin diseases, pneumonia, and diarrhoea - especially among children. Dengue, in particular, is becoming more and more widespread. We are overwhelmed by the situation. It's becoming increasingly difficult to provide care with the current staff. The level of healthcare required is now beyond our capacity."
The Patharghata Upazila Health Complex was established in 1972 with 31 beds to serve the people. In 2010, the capacity was upgraded to 50 beds to serve approximately 200,000 people in the upazila. However, despite the increase in bed numbers, the shortage of doctors and staff has remained a persistent problem for decades.
