Shahporan Hospital in Sylhet Sadar upazila yet to be made functional

SYLHET, Feb 12: The 31-bed hospital built in Khadimnagar area under Sylhet Sadar upazila four years ago could not be made functional as yet due to negligence of the concerned authority.

The three-storey building is well-equipped with modem equipment, but only due to absence of manpower and financial approval, the government institution remained unusable, sources informed.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina through video conference formally inaugurated Sylhet Sadar Upazila Hospital, along with some other institutions, in 2016 naming it as 'Shahporan Hospital'.

An official at the office of Civil Surgeon of Sylhet said it could not be made operational as approval for appointment of manpower as well as the financial matters was yet to be made. Even there had been no approval for appointing class four staff there, he added.

"We had already informed the higher authority about the situation. However, through local arrangement only some outdoor facilities had been started in a limited way", he added.

Works began in 2014 and Tk 160 million was spent for construction of the hospital. Through local arrangement, two consultants and others had been there temporarily for the outdoor service on a limited scale, an official said.

The official, however, claimed the ministry last year had approved 37 staff including nine medical officers for the hospital but the financial approval is yet to be done.

Anwarul Haque, trader at the Khadimnagar bazar said the buildings of the much desired hospital were lying almost unused as the authority failed to appoint physicians and other staff in the last four years. But there is none to see these, he added, whereas the common men have to go to the Osmani Medical College Hospital, several kilometres away for treatment.

Had the hospital been made functional, sufferings of the locals of the vast areas of the city suburbs could be reduced, said the Sadar Upazila Parishad Chairman Ashfaque Ahmed. "We have urged the authority for immediate appointment of manpower and financial sanction for the government-run hospital."

During a visit to the hospital on the main road of Sylhet-Tamabil Highway last week, its main gate was found wide open. There was no guard even.

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