457 Posts Vacant at Jashore Upazila Health Complex, Leaving Patients in Dire Conditions

Shahed Rahman, from Jashore

The upazila health complex is the last hope of treatment for helpless, poor and low income people in villages. But in Jashore, patient pressure has grown at these complexes, while the number of doctors and staff has not grown in the same way. In some 50 bed hospitals, 90 to 100 patients stay admitted every day. Many approved doctor posts are also empty. Some places have no anaesthesia specialist, so surgery has stopped. Some have no pathologist. Some have ultrasonogram and X-ray machines but no staff to run them. So patients must rush to district town hospitals or private clinics. This raises the cost of treatment for poor families, and many borrow money to pay for it.

An analysis of data from the upazila health complexes of Chougachha, Jhikargachha, Bagherpara, Abhaynagar, Sharsha, Manirampur and Keshabpur shows this picture. Beds are fewer than patients. The hospitals struggle because they lack doctors, nurses, technicians and other staff.

Data from the Jashore District Health Department show that the seven upazila health complexes have 1,398 approved posts, but only 941 people work there. So 457 posts are vacant. This is about 32.7 percent of all approved posts. The seven complexes have 287 approved doctor posts, and 120 of them have no doctor.

By complex, Chougachha has 25 doctors for 43 posts. Manirampur has 26 for 47, and Bagherpara has 20 for 40. Keshabpur has 25 for 43, Jhikargachha has 29 for 46, and Sharsha has 18 for 30. Abhaynagar has 24 for 38 posts.

Chougachha Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Mr. Md. Ahsanul Mizan Rumi said 90 to 100 patients stay admitted in the 50 bed complex. He said only 24 doctors work against 43 posts. Only caesarean operations happen here, but the anaesthesia post has been empty for a long time. The complex has an ultrasonogram machine, but no doctor can run it. The hospital has 127 staff for 221 posts, so 94 posts are vacant.

Jhikargachha Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Md. Abdur Rashid said the staff must keep up service despite the shortage. He said 29 doctors work against 46 posts. Only caesarean operations happen here, and only on Thursdays. The anaesthesia doctor works in Jhikargachha three days a week. He also takes extra duty at Chougachha Upazila Health Complex. The complex has X-ray and ultrasonogram machines, but no government doctor for ultrasonograms. The hospital has 182 staff for 228 posts, so 46 posts are vacant.

Bagherpara Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Arup Jyoti Ghosh said a small staff must handle extra patient pressure. He said only 20 doctors work against 40 posts. The anaesthesia doctor serves Bagherpara only two days a week. On the other four days, he takes extra duty at the Sadar Hospital. The complex has 104 staff for 150 posts, so 46 posts are vacant.

Abhaynagar Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Md. Mizanur Rahman said the complex needs more staff for the patient load. He said 60 to 70 patients stay admitted in the 50 bed complex. He said 24 doctors work against 38 posts. The complex has 110 staff for 138 posts.

Sharsha Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Toufiq Parvez said 18 doctors work against 30 posts. The anaesthesia doctor takes extra duty at the Sadar Hospital. The hospital has 102 staff for 194 posts, so 92 posts are vacant.

Manirampur Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Fayaz Ahmed Faisal said extra patient pressure has made the staff shortage severe. He said 90 to 100 patients stay admitted in the 50 bed complex. He said 26 doctors work against 47 posts. The complex has 169 staff for 247 posts, so 78 posts are vacant.

Keshabpur Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Rehenewaz said the lack of staff and equipment makes it hard to give the service people want. He said 25 doctors work against 43 posts. The pathology department is open, but there is no pathologist. So patients must go to private clinics outside for tests. The X-ray and ultrasonogram machines are also out of order. The hospital has 147 staff for 220 posts, so 73 posts are vacant.

Civil Surgeon of Jashore Dr. Masud Rana said, “Patient pressure at the upazila health complexes has grown fast, but the number of doctors and staff has not grown with it. So the limited staff must take extra duties to handle patients beyond the bed count. Patients must also go to the district town or private places because broken machines are not repaired and needed doctors and technicians are not hired. We have shared our demand. This will be solved soon.”