Promised upgradation of hospital yet to see reality
Hairline cracks have developed on the wall of emergency ward at the new building of Gopalganj Sadar Hospital, right, a good amount of unused equipment rusting away as the hospital has not been upgraded to a 250-bed one despite completion of its infrastructure several years ago. PHOTO: STAR
Health service at Gopalganj Sadar Hospital, the only full-fledged hospital for 13 lakh people of the district, remains in a deplorable condition mainly due to shortage of doctors. Against 25 sanctioned posts, only 12 doctors are working in the 100-bed hospital while other posts including those of seven specialist doctors and three medical officers are lying vacant. The post of emergency medical officer is also vacant for long. At present there is no consultant at different departments of the hospital including surgery, medicine, ENT, gynaecology, eye, cardiology, anaesthesia and pathology, said sources at Gopalganj civil surgeon's office. "During the last Awami League rule, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced that the Sadar Hospital would be upgraded to a 250-bed one. But the next BNP-led four-party alliance government did not allow opening of the hospital although the infrastructure had been built. Consequently, equipment worth crores of taka are getting damaged," said Dr Faridul Islam, resident surgeon at Gopalganj Sadar Hospital. The hospital could function as a 250-bed one if necessary manpower was appointed but the process has remained stalled due to bureaucratic red-tapism, sources said. Mujahidul Islam, a businessman in Gopalganj town, said medicine worth several crore taka has been bought in several installments for the hospital after the present AL-led government assumed office but the outdoor section still sees shortage of quality anti-biotic medicines. Sick people, even those with serious problems, are often turned down, locals said. "Patients crowd in front of the doctors' chambers in the hospital but doctors idle away their time on the upper floor in the name of tea break. And when noon approaches they say that time to see patients is over for the day," Pabitra Saha, who was returning after failing to see a doctor at the hospital, told this correspondent. "Present health adviser hails from Kashiani in Gopalganj district. When we tried to draw his attention to the problems in the health sector in the district he stopped us saying that he is aware of it. Even the prime minister's assurance of upgrading the hospital into a 250-bed one has not been met in last one year," said a doctor seeking anonymity. A few others echoed the same. The outgoing civil surgeon and Superintendent of Gopalganj Sadar Hospital Dr Mohammad Nurun Nabi said, "I have tried to overhaul the health system in Gopalganj during my tenure as civil surgeon. But many problems still persist."
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