BAUPHAL, PATUAKHALI, Oct 6: Eleven out of 15 physician positions at the 50-bed Upazila Health Complex are vacant. Healthcare services for approximately 4.5 lakh people in this upazila are being managed by only four doctors. Additionally, due to staff shortage in various positions, marginalised people are being deprived of services. Most people are suffering as they are not receiving the desired healthcare services.
According to relevant sources, the government hospital was established in Bauphal Upazila in 1975. In 1985, the Upazila Health Complex was upgraded to 31 beds. To improve the quality of services for marginalised people, it was upgraded to 50 beds in 2013. Although a 50-bed hospital should have 15 doctors, there are only four. For a long time, 11 positions, including gynaecology, cardiology, medicine, anaesthesia specialists, residential medical officers, and medical officers, have been vacant.
There is not only a shortage of doctors but also a staff crisis in various positions, including assistant surgeons and nurses. Due to the long-standing shortage of doctors and staff at the Upazila Health Complex, approximately 4.5 lakh people in this upazila are suffering without receiving the desired services.
During a visit, it was seen that the hospital's outpatient department was overflowing with patients, especially women and children. Only one doctor was seeing patients. Due to the large crowd of patients, he was struggling.
Expressing frustration, Nargis Akhtar, who was waiting with her child to see a doctor, said, "I have been waiting with my child for almost two hours. The child has been suffering from a fever for three days. Since treatment from a local village doctor did not cure him, I was forced to come to the hospital for treatment. Even after waiting for hours, I am not getting service."
Another patient named Alekha Begum said, "I have been suffering from a fever for three days. After coming to the hospital for treatment and waiting for hours, I have become even more ill."
Dr. Fatema Akhtar Juthi, a physician at the Upazila Health Complex, said, "This is a large upazila. There are 15 unions and one municipality here. Many patients come to the emergency and outpatient departments every day. Due to the doctor shortage, we are struggling to ensure healthcare services."
Admitting the suffering of patients due to the lack of doctors as required, Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Abdur Rouf said, "The hospital is in a terrible state due to the doctor shortage. We are managing somehow by bringing medical officers from union health centres. The higher authorities have been informed about the staff crisis, including the doctor shortage."
Dr. Khaledur Rahman Mia, Civil Surgeon of Patuakhali, said that the upazila's health system could collapse at any moment due to the doctor shortage, and a letter has been sent to the higher authorities.
