The upazila health complex in Moheshpur has been running with only three physicians, as the positions of 31 employees, including those of physicians, are lying vacant there. As a result, hundreds of patients from different areas of the upazila are being deprived of medical services and facilities.

Sources said the ultra sonogram and X-ray machines became inoperative a long time ago. The lack of a technician has badly hampered blood, urine, stool and other laboratory-based investigations in the 50-bed health complex, they added.

The sources said most of the physicians posted at the health complex were transferred elsewhere after a few months. Since then, sub-assistant community medical officers (SACMOs) are deputed at the complex from various health sub-centres. This has been hampering treatment at those sub centres for the past one year.

Ayesha Akter, a patient from Bazrapur village of Moheshpur, told The Independent that she had no way but to go to a private clinic as the health complex did not enough doctors to look after patients.

When contacted, upazila health and family planning officer Nasir Uddin said he, along with resident medical officer Mahbub Alam and medical officer Mefta, had been managing the situation at the upazila health complex. The authorities concerned were informed about the shortage of physicians long ago, but to no avail, he added.