Pabna mental hospital in sorry state

PABNA, July 24: Crises deepen in Pabna Mental Hospital (PMH), the lone specialised hospital for mental patients across the country.

Acute shortage of doctors and staffs disrupt medical service for the 500-bed hospital, sources said.

Neglected by the family and society mental patients come here to get cured but they are reportedly being neglected here. Pabna Mental Hospital, an establishment for providing medical and surgical treatment and nursing care for mentally retarded persons is the first and the only such hospital in the country, established in 1957 at Hemayetpur area on 111.25 acres of land.  

Initially the number of beds was 60 and subsequently was increased to 200. Later in 1966 another 200 beds were added. The hospital was upgraded to 500 beds for wider mental health service but it limps with poor facility and struggles to provide better treatment.

It is a specialised hospital but still there is virtually no specialised physician. Only 8 doctors out of 37 posts are working in the 500-bed Pabna mental hospital that has 368 working staffs out of 504 posts, hospital sources said.

Of the 8 existing doctors 6 are general medical officers while most of the posts of specialist doctors remain vacant in Pabna mental hospital, official sources said.

 "The posts remain vacant since long. Despite our requisition no new doctor were appointed here in vacant posts. There is no senior consultant and psychiatrist although this is a specialised hospital." Dr. Abdur Razzak, director of Pabna Mental Hospital told FE.   

"Most of the buildings were constructed during 50s. The walls and roofs of the buildings turned week. If there is heavy shower rain water enters the rooms through the roofs. Of the 18 wards 10 are facing the same problem." Md. Abdul Bari, ward master of Pabna Mental Hospital said.