Pabna Health Care in Dismal State
Half of doctors' posts vacant, shortage of staff acute
A staggering 148 of the 257 posts of doctors are lying vacant at 14 health care units in Pabna district, hampering healthcare services in the district.
Only 109 doctors are now working to provide healthcare service to some 2.6 million people in nine upazilas of the district, sources in the district health department said.
In 2005, the then 120-bed Pabna General Hospital was upgraded to a 250-bed one but there is hardly any development in its facilities.
Treatment of patients is greatly hampered at Pabna General Hospital, as the authorities concerned did not appoint sufficient manpower for the specialised hospital in last four years, said Dr Md Tariqul Islam, the RMO (resident medical officer) of the hospital.
Only 30 doctors are working in Pabna General Hospital although there are 57 sanctioned posts, official sources said.
The hospital does not have any senior consultant for medicine and consultants for cardiology, pathology and anaesthesia.
“The list of vacant posts is usually sent to the higher authorities twice a month. But the health directorate is unable to provide required manpower due to shortage of physicians across the country,” Pabna Civil Surgeon Dr Khairul Alam Chowdhury told The Daily Star recently.
Shortage of manpower, mainly doctors, is also acute in upazila health complexes including 50-bed ones in Santhia, Sujanagar and Chatmohar upazilas.
Sujanagar and Santhia upazila health complexes are running with seven doctors each although there are 29 and 31 posts in the two health care centres.
Eleven doctors are working at Chatmohar Upazila Health Complex while it has posts of 31 doctors.
Faridpur Upazila Health Complex is running with only four doctors although there are 25 allocated posts following its recent upgradation to a 50-bed one.
“Officially four doctors are working at Faridpur Upazila Health Complex but practically we are getting service of three doctors there. Health assistants often provide health service to patients due to lack of doctors. Quality of treatment cannot not be maintained due to the situation,” said Dr Md Khalilur Rahman, Faridpur upazila health and family planning officer.
Three out of 13 posts of doctors are lying vacant in Pabna Sadar Upazila Health Complex, said sources at Pabna Civil Surgeon's Office.
The numbers of vacant posts are seven in Ishwardi upazila, eight in Atghoria upazila, five in Bhangura upazila and nine in Bera upazila health complex while the sanctioned posts are 16, 14, 14, 17 respectively.
Besides, two posts of doctors have been lying vacant at Pabna Civil Surgeon's Office and the chest disease hospital.
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