Converting UHCs into 250-bed hospitals

As most of our rural people have financial constraints, it is difficult for them to go to district or divisional hospitals to get medical treatment. They need health care facilities at their doorsteps. In this case, upazila health complex (UHC) can serve them the best. However, it is unfortunate that most of these complexes have been suffering from an acute shortage of doctors, nurses, medical assistants, pharmacists, general officers and staff. More than half of the posts of physicians and other staff have been lying vacant for long at these health care units. Many doctors are not interested in serving at these UHCs.

If we want to provide our rural people with better health care facilities, we must focus on our UHCs. These complexes should be modernised and converted into 250-bed general hospitals. They should have doctors' chamber, doctors' room, patients' wards, nursing station, diagnostic centre, storehouse, operation theatre and administrative buildings. Residential building for doctors, nurses, paramedics, medical assistants and general staff should be arranged. And it will encourage the physicians and other staff to work in these UHCs. These complexes should also be equipped with necessary medical equipment and instruments so that all diagnostic tests could be conducted there. Also, the fees of diagnostic tests should be affordable for most village people.

Md Ashraf Hossain

120, Central Bashabo, Dhaka-1214,

tahrimanithi@gmail.com