Although the Shariatpur Sadar Hospital has been upgraded to 250 beds, medical services are being severely disrupted due to a severe shortage of manpower. Out of 72 approved doctor positions, only 22 are currently on duty. Every day, an average of 1,500 to 2,000 patients come to receive treatment at the outdoor (OPD) and emergency departments, forcing the limited number of doctors to provide services under immense pressure.
According to hospital sources, while the hospital is officially a 250-bed facility, it is still operating under the manpower structure of a 100-bed hospital. Furthermore, as many doctors are serving elsewhere on promotion and deputation, the actual number of doctors engaged in patient care is even lower.
The situation is particularly critical in several key departments. There are no consultants or doctors in the Pediatrics, ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat), Ophthalmology, and Cardiology departments. Against 11 approved senior consultant positions, only one person is currently on duty. As a result, patients requiring specialized care are forced to travel outside Shariatpur.
Not only doctors, but there is also a shortage of nurses and technical staff. Out of 92 approved nursing positions, 59 are currently working. With some nurses on deputation, maternity leave, and post-retirement leave, the actual number of working nurses is even lower.
Patients and their relatives complain that long waiting hours have become an everyday routine. Long queues can be seen daily in front of doctors' rooms in the outdoor department. It has become difficult for the limited number of doctors to give adequate time and attention to the massive influx of patients.
Hospital physicians stated that the manpower shortage is creating severe physical and mental pressure on them. In many cases, a single doctor has to shoulder the responsibilities meant for four or five. This makes it difficult to ensure normal and quality care for the patients.
Dr. Mitu, the Resident Medical Officer of the hospital, said that because there are fewer doctors compared to patients, doctors, officers, and employees are struggling to manage the service delivery.
Hospital Superintendent Dr. Mohammad Akram Elahi acknowledged the manpower shortage and stated that requisition letters have been sent to higher authorities multiple times demanding necessary doctors and other staff. Regular communication is being maintained with the authorities to resolve the crisis.
Local residents demand that considering the patient load, necessary doctors, nurses, and technicians should be recruited promptly. Particularly, deploying specialist physicians to departments where they are currently absent would raise the quality of government medical services and reduce the suffering of traveling to other districts for treatment.
— Daily Best News Desk • Fearless in the search for truth
Reported by Md. Roman Akhand, Shariatpur Correspondent • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
