CHANDPUR, Feb 15: Matlab North Upazila Health Complex has been plagued with serious problems for a long time, causing immense sufferings for patients.
Sources said hundreds of patients in rural areas are being deprived of proper medical services. Pregnant women, elderly and child patients are the worst sufferers.
The 31-bed health complex has been upgraded to a 50-bed one. But it is still being run by doctors and other employees of the 31-bed health complex.
On average, 400 patients come to this hospital every day from far-off places for treatment. But they get disappointed for the want of specialist doctors in the hospital.
According to the hospital sources, "A total of 78 posts of doctors and staff members have been lying vacant in this hospital for a long time."
There is no medicine consultant, orthopedics, child specialist and gyne doctor in the hospital for a long time. A gyne doctor, Dr Taslima Afroje, was posted for this hospital early 2024, but after a few days, she was transferred to Dhaka, locals alleged.
So, after her transfer, no caesarian operation is done here since 25 April 2024.
After being deprived of proper medical services in this health complex, many poor patients, including pregnant women, have to go to private clinics where they have to pay expensive costs.
About three years ago, a hapless woman had to sell her newborn to afford her delivery bills of a private hospital.
Shahinur Begum, a female patient of Hanirpar village, said she was disappointed due to a shortage of specialist doctors in the health complex. Many other patients echoed the same voice. Talking to the FE, Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr AKM Abu Sayeed said, "Due to a shortage of gyne and specialist doctors and other important employees, we have been facing problems seriously for a long time.
"We can't render proper treatment to the patients. We have already informed the higher authorities about the acute shortage of doctors and other staff members in this hospital. I hope the problems will be solved soon.''
In another development, serious patients suffer a lot for want of ambulance drivers in Kochua Health Complex, Matlab South Health Complex and Hajiganj Health Complex.
Talking to the FE, Civil Surgeon
Dr Md Noor Alam Din has said, "We have informed the higher authorities of this important issue. We hope this problem will be solved soon.''
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