The frontal view of Dharmapasha Upazila Health Complex in Sunamganj — FE Photo Patients of Dharmapasha Upazila Health Complex in Sunamganj are being deprived of proper medical services due to a shortage of staff members.
Sources said patients are not getting necessary medicare services in the health complex.
In another development, the only X-ray machine of Taraganj Upazila Health Complex in Rangpur district has been lying dysfunctional for nearly three months, causing woes for patients.
Our correspondent in Sylhet says, Dharmapasha Upazila Health Complex is failing to provide necessary medical services due to an acute shortage of physicians and other staff.
This is why, getting no medicare services, many people of the remote area even have to go to neighbouring Netrakona and even to Mymensingh city for treatment.
Sources informed that out of 146 posts, only 95 people are at work on various positions.
A number important posts like resident medical officer, junior consultants for medicine, gynecology, two medical officers, medical officer unani, dental surgeon etc had long been lying vacant.
Besides, 10 posts of sub-assistant community medical officers, who mainly serve for preliminary treatment to common patients, have been lying vacant.
The patients, especially from the poor and marginal groups, have been in much trouble due to shortage of other auxiliary staff members too, local people alleged.
They can't go to Netrakona or Mymensingh District Hospital due to shortage of money. They have to depend on the medicine shops for getting some treatment.
Taking the advantage of lack of facilities at the public hospital, some small diagnostic centres had been set by some quake who mainly often cheat the common people.
An official at the health complex, however admitted the problems due to shortage of staff and physicians, but said that measures were on for getting some staff soon.
Meanwhile, things are being managed somehow, he claimed, although the facility had been made 50-bed one staff appointment remained unmet.
Our Rangpur correspondent reports that many patients coming to 50-bed Taraganj Upazila Health Complex are being compelled to return without being able to undergo X-rays. Due to urgent requirement, patients are getting X-ray from different diagnostic centres, outside the health complex. As a result, they have to pay extra money.
According to official sources of the health complex, the X-ray machine, Air conditioner and IPS (Instant Power Supply) machine of the X-ray room have remained out of order for a long time, hindering X-ray services in the health complex.
Sources said every day, around 600 to 700 patients come to the health complex for taking treatment and most of them are very poor almost like pauper.
Of them, over 100 patients need X-ray services daily. But, X-ray service has remained closed in the health complex since 23 June 2024, causing sufferings for patients, especially poor ones.
Nurunnubai, a poor patient of village Chikli Chowdhurypara of Alampur union under Taraganj upazila, told The Financial Express that he has come to the hospital with his broken leg.
"On the doctor's advice, I've come here to undergo X-ray, but due to lack of this service available here, I have to go the diagnostic centre of outside for this purpose. Consequently, I will have to pay extra amount of money which is a burden for me," he added.
Like Nurunnabi many other poor patients echoed the same, adding that they come to the public hospital as they cannot afford required money for treatment.
"We have to struggle a lot for earning money to buy food for our family members, let alone treatment expenditure," they added.
Health and Family Planning Officer of Taraganj Upazila Health Complex, Dr Shahin Sultana admitted that the patients are being deprived of X-ray service in the health complex as the X-ray machine has remained useless.
They have sent letters to the higher authorities several times informing them of the matter, but the authorities concerned are yet to take any measures regarding this, she added.
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