Irregularities, manpower shortage : Patients deprived of treatment at Bheramara Upazila Health Complex
Arifuzzaman Lipton, Bheramara (Kushtia)
Healthcare services at the 50-bed Bheramara Upazila Health Complex in Kushtia have collapsed due to a shortage of doctors, irregularities, manpower shortages, and a network of brokers.
This renowned hospital is the only place of treatment for lakhs of people not only in Bheramara but also in the neighboring Daulatpur, Mirpur and Ishwardi areas of Pabna. However, due to the shortage of doctors and corruption, the patients have been suffering for a long time. The illegal travel abroad of Dr. Palash Chandra Debnath of this hospital, the harassment of patients and their relatives by the staff of the private diagnostic center in front of the hospital gate, institutional irregularities and the violence of the brokers have all contributed to the current situation of Bheramara Upazila Health Complex being extremely chaotic. The patients and their relatives said that the problem will worsen if urgent steps are not taken.
Among the 25 doctors approved at Bheramara Health Complex, there are an Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer, a Junior Consultant (Surgery), a Junior Consultant (Medicine), a Junior Consultant (Ortho-Surgery) and 3 Medical Officers. The vacant posts at Bheramara Health Complex are Junior Consultant (Gynecology), Junior Consultant (Anesthesia), Junior Consultant (Pediatrics), Junior Consultant (Eye), Junior Consultant (Cardiology), Junior Consultant (ENT), Junior Consultant (Skin and Sexual).
In addition, the posts of IMO, Anesthetist, M.O (AMC) are vacant. Although there is supposed to be one medical officer in each of the 6 union sub-health centers of the upazila, all of them are vacant. Only the medical officer appointed at Satbaria sub-health center has been attached to the neighboring upazila health complex. As a result, round-the-clock medical service is almost non-existent.
The hospital is without 1 midwife, 1 junior nurse, 1 accountant, 1 cashier, 3 office assistants cum computer operators, 1 medical technologist radiology and imaging, 1 medical technologist (EPI), 2 health inspectors, 12 health assistants, a compounder, an office assistant, three ward boys, two nannies, two cooks, a gardener, a security guard, three cleaners and two office assistants from the sub-health center. Every day, patients are admitted outside the allocated seats in the hospital.
Therefore, patients have to get treatment on the floor or on the balcony to get a bed. Operations are closed due to the lack of gynecologists and anesthesiologists. About 400 patients receive services outdoors every day.
Moreover, the hospital's emergency department and maternity services have also collapsed. For a long time, the hospital's inefficient operators and X-ray machines have been out of order, and it is not possible to conduct necessary lab tests. As a result, patients are forced to rush to Kushtia General Hospital or private clinics for treatment. Due to the lack of doctors, sonography has been stopped in the hospital.
The hospital's doctor, Dr. Palash Chandra Debnath (Code No. 131900), took a 3-day casual leave from February 2, 2023. But he did not join the office after the leave. Rumor has it that he went abroad illegally without informing the authorities. The incident has created anger in the area. Patients said, 'If a doctor goes abroad illegally while receiving government salary, then who will provide our medical services?' Dr. Debnath's long absence has already exposed the medical crisis at the hospital.
Inside the hospital, a ring of brokers is active, taking patients to various private clinics and diagnostic centers. Patients often do not receive proper food allocated by the government. As a result, the hospital has become a hotbed of irregularities and corruption.
There are three private diagnostic centers in front of the hospital gate. There are allegations that during any test, the staff of these institutions try to pull the patients by the hand and take them to their center. This causes embarrassment and suffering to the patients.
Recently, several important hospital employees have been transferred on the orders of the District Civil Surgeon's Office. This has further intensified the crisis at various levels, including health assistants, office staff, ward boys, and cleaners.
People from Daulatpur, Mirpur and Ishwardi regions also come to this hospital for treatment. But due to the lack of doctors, limited testing and irregularities, their condition is also hopeless. In the end, many are forced to go to the hospital in Kushtia city, which increases both time, money and inconvenience.
Bheramara Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Mizanur Rahman said, 'There is a doctor shortage in the hospital. We have informed the higher authorities about the matter. We hope that action will be taken soon. Since Dr. Palash Chandra Debnath is absent, several applications have been made to the higher office.' Bheramara Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Rafiqul Islam said, 'Necessary steps will be taken regarding the irregularities and doctor shortage in the hospital. However, the doctor shortage is a national problem. The irregularities in the hospital will also be scrutinized.'
