SYLHET, Apr 03: Healthcare activities at the Fenchuganj Upazila Health Complex in Sylhet are being hampered due to absence of required number of physicians and other staff members.
The government hospital was upgraded into 50-bed one from 31-bed capacity months ago but neither the number of posts of physicians nor that of the staff members have yet been raised, sources informed.
In this situation, patients are referred to the district hospital, alleged a number of locals.
"Immediate steps should be taken for making the hospital into a functional 50-bed facility as the government spent huge money for the buildings," said one Habibur Rahman of Maijgaon Bazar.
About 125,000 people of the upazila are fully dependent on the hospital while patients from three neighbouring upazilas also visit it due to a better communication by road or train.
The existing staff members and physicians are unable to cope with the rush of patients.
An official at the health complex said the number of patients is on the rise day by day, but still we have to manage the situation by the staff of 31-bed facility although it is upgraded officially into a 50-bed one.
Everyday 100 to 150 patients visit its outdoor facilities while about 25 to 30 admitted patients are there on the indoor department.
Besides, there is a regular rush of emergency patients always, he added. The hospital needs staff members and cleaners urgently, the official said.
Civil Surgeon of Sylhet Himangshu Lal Roy said some upazila health complexes including Fenchuganj were upgraded into 50-bed ones, months ago.
The process is on for appointment of staff, physicians, consultants for those. However, it may take several months to completing the process, he added.
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