Lack of manpower

Narail Sadar Hospital in complete disarray

Lack of manpower is severely hampering the functions of Narail Sadar Hospital, which had been upgraded to a 100-bed hospital from 50 beds in 2005. A 100-bed hospital needs at least 40 doctors to attend to the patients, but this hospital is run only with 16 doctors. The post of anaesthetist has been lying vacant for a couple of months. This is triggering serious problems for the surgery department. Besides, most of the doctors working here are drug addicts and cannot provide proper healthcare service to patients. Julekha Begum (45) of Ashaikhula village under Shalikha upazila told The Independent that she was admitted to the hospital about two months ago after having a fracture in her left hand. She is a patient of women ward no. 2 and needs surgery to recover. But the hospital authorities are feeding her painkillers.

When contacted, Dr Abdul Kader, assistant professor of the orthopaedic department, admitted that Julekha needed surgery treatment. “But there is no anaesthetist in the hospital. I told her to go to Jessore for better treatment. But she is telling political leaders and journalists that doctors here are not treating her,” he said.

Monibabu Biswas, an employee of a business farm of Rupganj Bazar, said: “About a fortnight ago, I took my wife, who was having cardiac problems, to the hospital at night. The doctor on duty, Aftab Uddin Rony, prescribed two files of pethidine and asked me to buy the medicine from a certain medical store. He also told me not show the prescription and medicine to anyone. I think he is an addict.”

Most of the doctors are affiliated with local clinics and spend time there.

Alimuzzaman of Mokshedpur said: “My baby was born at  ‘Divine Clinic’ under Dr Mina Humayun Kabir,  a senior consultant of the gynaecological department of Sadar Hospital. Later, I noticed some complications and rushed the three-day-old baby to the hospital, but he died here due to the negligence of the doctors.”

Dr Abul Bashar Mohammad Asaduzzaman, superintendent of Narail Sadar Hospital, said: “I joined at the hospital only three months ago. There are many irregularities that cannot be removed overnight. The process of transferring drug-addict doctors is going on. Though I have brought about some changes in the hospital, I’m totally disappointed with the current healthcare services provided by the hospital.”    

Narail civil surgeon Dr Munshi Asaduzzaman said he has talked several times with the authorities concerned about the shortage of doctors, but the problem is yet to be resolved. “The director general (DG) of healthcare services has promised me that they would soon provide an anaesthetist,” he added.

Lack of manpower

Narail Sadar Hospital in complete disarray

Lack of manpower is severely hampering the functions of Narail Sadar Hospital, which had been upgraded to a 100-bed hospital from 50 beds in 2005. A 100-bed hospital needs at least 40 doctors to attend to the patients, but this hospital is run only with 16 doctors. The post of anaesthetist has been lying vacant for a couple of months. This is triggering serious problems for the surgery department. Besides, most of the doctors working here are drug addicts and cannot provide proper healthcare service to patients. Julekha Begum (45) of Ashaikhula village under Shalikha upazila told The Independent that she was admitted to the hospital about two months ago after having a fracture in her left hand. She is a patient of women ward no. 2 and needs surgery to recover. But the hospital authorities are feeding her painkillers. When contacted, Dr Abdul Kader, assistant professor of the orthopaedic department, admitted that Julekha needed surgery treatment. But there is no anaesthetist in the hospital. I told her to go to Jessore for better treatment. But she is telling political leaders and journalists that doctors here are not treating her, he said. Monibabu Biswas, an employee of a business farm of Rupganj Bazar, said: About a fortnight ago, I took my wife, who was having cardiac problems, to the hospital at night. The doctor on duty, Aftab Uddin Rony, prescribed two files of pethidine and asked me to buy the medicine from a certain medical store. He also told me not show the prescription and medicine to anyone. I think he is an addict. Most of the doctors are affiliated with local clinics and spend time there. Alimuzzaman of Mokshedpur said: My baby was born at Divine Clinic under Dr Mina Humayun Kabir, a senior consultant of the gynaecological department of Sadar Hospital. Later, I noticed some complications and rushed the three-day-old baby to the hospital, but he died here due to the negligence of the doctors. Dr Abul Bashar Mohammad Asaduzzaman, superintendent of Narail Sadar Hospital, said: I joined at the hospital only three months ago. There are many irregularities that cannot be removed overnight. The process of transferring drug-addict doctors is going on. Though I have brought about some changes in the hospital, Im totally disappointed with the current healthcare services provided by the hospital. Narail civil surgeon Dr Munshi Asaduzzaman said he has talked several times with the authorities concerned about the shortage of doctors, but the problem is yet to be resolved. The director general (DG) of healthcare services has promised me that they would soon provide an anaesthetist, he added.