CHANDPUR, Dec 21: Poor patients have been deprived of optimal reproductive care due to the absence of an OB/GYN specialist and acute shortage of health assistants at the Shahrasti Upazila Health Complex in Chandpur.
Moreover, hundreds of impoverished patients, including pregnant mothers, seek treatment at the hospital every day to receive affordable medical care. But along with a shortage of health care workers, thehospital's sole ultrasonogram machine has been remaining out of order for the last six months.
The government rate for ultrasonogram test is at Tk 220, whereas in private clinics it costs Tk 1,000-1,200 along with a consultation fee of Tk 500, which most of the poor and middle class patients can not afford. Bimal Chandra Bhattacharya, a lab staff at the hospital, said requests made to the higher authorities for a new ultrasonogram machine were not yet approved. Jasmine Akter, Rabeya Begum, Sharifa Khatoon are some of the patients who said they are disappointed due to the absence of an OB/GYN specialist and an ultrasonogram machine at Shahrasti Upazila Health Complex, where -according to a survey - 40-50 patients are required to have an ultrasonogram done on an average every day. Against 44 approved posts for health assistants, only 20 were filled and the shortage results in daily issues, Upazila Health & Family Planning Officer Dr Aklima Jahan said this month, adding that the hospital's only ambulance has become too old. She added that they have informed the higher authorities about the sufferings faced by poor patients to no effect as of yet.
maayerbadhon@gmail.com