Faridganj Health Complex faces shortage of doctors

CHANDPUR, Nov 26: Local people are being deprived of proper medical services in Faridganj Upazila Health Complex in the district due to a shortage of doctors.

Every day, several hundred patients come to the 50-bed hospital from rural areas. But, they do not get proper treatment there, locals said.

During a recent visit, this correspondent has found that as many as 14 posts of doctors and office staff members have been lying vacant since long in this hospital.

There are no child specialist, orthopedic doctor, gynecologist and medicine consultant in this hospital. So, poor patients are especially being deprived of getting proper medicare facilities.

Children and poor pregnant patients are the worst sufferers for many years, locals said.

The poor pregnant women have to go to private clinics for treatment at higher costs.

Gyne doctor and a few other doctors of this hospital are allegedly working elsewhere on deputation in Chandpur and Dhaka.

At present, 24 doctors are working at the hospital. But they can hardly cope with the huge rush of patients every day.

Although the hospital has been upgraded into a 50-bed one, there are no sufficient medical staff members to provide proper medical services, patients said.

According to Residential Medical Officer (RMO) Dr Mozammel Haque, on average around 700-800 patients from remote areas come to the hospital every day for outdoor treatment.

On average, every day around 100 patients are rushed to the Emergency Department while around 80-85 patients are provided treatment in the indoor treatment daily.

Many patients have to stay on the floors for the want of beds.

Abul Kalam, 60, a resident of Char Mothura village, came to the hospital with complaints of acute respiratory problems and after waiting and standing for two hours in the long queue, he was able to take treatment at last at noon.

From Gupti (East) village of the Upazila, a patient Sohela Begum (25) along with her sick son came to consult a specialist doctor at this hospital, but they were disappointed as there are no child specialist and medicine consultant at this hospital.

Another patient, Alamgir Hossain, 50, of Borali village also came to consult a specialist doctor, but failed to get the service.

Like these patients, many others of remote areas have to get disappointed for want of specialist doctors and medicine consultants at this hospital.

Talking to the FE, Upazila Health and FP officer Dr Asaduzzaman Jewel has said some doctors of this hospital are working elsewhere on deputation.

However, he has informed the higher authorities concerned several times about the problems being faced by him in running the hospital's day-to-day services, he adds.

Mr Jewel hopes that the higher authorities would take cognisance of the hospital's problems and address them soon.