Health service in Dinajpur limps for doctor shortage
A large number of patients have to stay on the floors of Dinajpur Sadar Hospital where accommodation crisis along with shortage of doctors hampers treatment. The photo was taken recently.Photo: STAR
Medical service for 30 five lakh people in Dinajpur district is limping amid serious shortage of doctors. The situation has turned all the more worse for patients in remote areas as a large number of doctors from upazila health complexes and Dinajpur Sadar Hospital have 'managed' deputation to Dinajpur Medical College and Hospital (DJMCH), said sources at Dinajpur Civil Surgeon's office. 'Partially started' in early last month, DJMCH is providing only some limited service under a few departments. Now there are 12 doctors against 42 posts at Dinajpur Sadar Hospital, three doctors in Chirirbandar upazila, two doctors in Biral upazila, while Ghoraghat health complex is running with only one doctor although the sanctioned posts of doctors in each upazila health complex of the district is 19. All the upazila hospitals are running without the services of permanent female medical officers or gynaecologists. Overburdened with work, the doctors cannot examine and treat patients properly while patients with serious problems are often referred to DJMCH. But many patients in remote areas, especially the poor ones, can hardly afford to go to the district town for treatment. Admitting the prevailing situation, Dinajpur Civil Surgeon Dr Abdul Karim said, "The matter has been brought to the notice of the health ministry and the problem will be solved within a month." In terms of infrastructure and manpower, not a single hospital in the rural area of the district fulfils the specified norms, said a doctor who has been deputed to DJMCH recently. Ghoraghat upazila Health Complex, which is running with only one doctor, has become only a first aid centre with no facilities and patients with serious ailments are referred to Dinajpur Medical College, about 120km away. Accident victims, even if in serious conditions, are given only first aid in the hospital, said locals. "In January, I took my one-year-old son to the health complex for treatment but the baby died due to lack of proper treatment in absence of doctor," said Amir Hossain of village Shahebganj in the upazila. Sources said that there are 13 posts of medical officer.
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