Tribal people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) face significant hardships in accessing healthcare services due to the lack of quality hospitals tailored to the needs of the tribal population. The existing hospitals and upazila health complexes are plagued by several issues including inadequate seating capacity relative to patient numbers and a shortage of doctors and nurses. Consequently, those seeking healthcare at these facilities endure considerable difficulties.
On the one hand, there is a scarcity of medical personnel, while on the other, there is a shortage of modern, standard hospitals and health complexes. The poor communication infrastructure often results in patients succumbing to their ailments before reaching the hospital. This dire situation is lamentable. Instances of individuals falling ill or experiencing sudden accidents in remote hills and the subsequent challenges in arranging emergency transportation to hospitals have garnered attention. Tragic incidents, such as deaths en route to hospitals or the sight of sick tribal patients being carried by two individuals using a cloth, underscore the urgency of addressing these healthcare disparities.
Despite the prevailing modernisation campaigns, the fundamental issues at the heart of healthcare accessibility remain unaddressed. The reliance on private hospitals continues to grow, particularly among the indigenous population, highlighting the inadequacy of public healthcare services.
Furthermore, in Chittagong Hill Tracts hospitals, patients are required to incur additional expenses for accessing services with modern healthcare equipment and machinery, despite the promise of free healthcare services. This discrepancy deprives tribal people of essential healthcare services.
The grievances of indigenous peoples often go unheard, perpetuating their marginalisation. While infrastructure development prioritises commercial interests over healthcare needs, there is a noticeable absence of standard hospitals catering to the tribal population's requirements. Insufficient staffing and a lack of ambulances or helicopters further exacerbate the healthcare challenges in remote areas.
Maruf Hassan Bhiuyan
Columnist & Author
Chattogram
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