Patuakhali hospital needs immediate treatment
The government hospital that is supposed to meet the needs of about 16 lakh people has 33 sanctioned posts of doctors, but only 10 are posted now.
Of them, hardly five doctors are available at the hospital, patients alleged while talking to this correspondent during a visit there on Thursday.
Besides, beds and medicine are too inadequate to the needs of the people.
It was gathered that about half of the patients return home disappointed every day without getting any treatment facility.
About 300 to 400 patients come to the hospital from different parts of the district daily, sources at the hospital said.
This correspondent saw about 200 patients including women and children waiting at the outdoor between 11 am and 1 pm on Thursday.
Only three doctors were seen at the outdoor. A total of 240 patients were given tickets for treatment, but 125 received treatment.
Lucky Begum of Kalaskathi village claimed that she came to the hospital on Wednesday with her diarrhoea afflicted four year-old daughter Sumi but could not meet a doctor till 1pm Thursday.
Sonali Gazi of Gopaldi village came on Tuesday with his one year -old son Suman, who was suffering from fever. She also alleged that she could not meet any doctor till 1 pm Thursday.
At the outdoor, over 200 patients were waiting.
"I am waiting since 9 am here but the doctor was no available at his room', told Salma of Kuripaka village in the Sadar upazila, mother of one year-old Monir.
"I came also on Tuesday but the doctor was no at his room and I went back home", she claimed.
The hospital was established in 1979 on 12.44 acres land at Kalikapur in the town with 25 beds. The number of beds was increased to 100 in 1990 and to 250 beds later at a cost Tk13.58 crore. Prime Minister Khaleda Zia opened the upgraded hospital on February 17 this year.
Sources at the Civil Surgeon (CS) office said 23 out of 33 posts of doctors are vacant for long.
The vacant posts are those of senior consultant surgeon, child and ENT specialist, eye consultant, pathologist, radiologist and anaesthesist.
Three out of seven posts of medical officer (MO), all four posts of emergency medical officer (EMO) and all five posts of assistant registrar are also vacant for long.
It has been upgraded to a 250 bed hospital but the manpower including doctors has not been increased. This is awaiting approval of the ministry.
The organogram was sent to the ministry two months back but to no response yet, the sources said.
Patuakhali Civil Surgeon Dr. Nurun Nahar Begum Shiri said the hospital is being run by three medical officers, six consultant doctors and one dentist. She said she gave a proposal to the health ministry for 84 doctors.
It is gathered that out of required 432, only 140 staff including doctors are now posted there.
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