Patients of Noakhali 250-bed Hospital are not only deprived of proper healthcare services but also proper meals and pure drinking water as the hospital beset by manifold problems.
According to hospital sources, the hospital has only 250 beds, but about 550 to 600 patients on average stay in the hospital every. Finding no other option, patients who stay on the floor have to arrange foods for themselves as the hospital authorities do not provide them any food due to fund crunch.
Patients also alleged that they were not even provided with pure drinking water from the hospital which was established on 24 April, 1972 and later turned into Noakhali Abdul Malek Ukil Medical College Hospital in 2009. Consequently, patients and their attendants depend on water of a pond which is adjacent to the hospital and the water is polluted by hospital wastage.
During a visit to the hospital, this correspondent found that about 300 to 350 patients were lying on the floor and receiving treatment.
Nur Nabi, 22, of Karimpur village of Sadar upazila, said, “As we are poor, we can not go to private clinic for treatment. Finding no other alternative, we are taking treatment from here lying on the floor. But, the doctors and sisters do not show any interest to treat us. We are not getting diet and nursing care facilities from here.”
Rahima Begum, 45, of Alipur, Begumgonj upazila, Jabed Hossain, 38, of Amishapara village, Sonaimuri upazila, Hossain Ahamed, 55, of Char Clerk village under Subarnachar upazila and Md Jashim, 38, of Char Jubilee village, Subarnachar upazila echoed the same thing.
Not only the poor facilities, but also existence of brokers is also hampering treatment at the hospital.
A doctor seeking anonymity told the Dhaka Tribune that about 40 brokers were remained active in the hospital. Some brokers were continuing their profession with the help of physicians. He said some brokers create pressure on the doctors to send patients to private clinics. Belal, Miron, Liton, Sohag, Sumon, Raihan and Swapan are among the brokers.
Abul Kalam, 26, a resident of Karamullah under Sadar upazila said doctors also advised them to go the nearby clinics to get better treatment.
Local quacks and brokers said private clinic owners and doctors paid them for bringing patients to their chambers, diagnostic centres and private clinics.
Belal, a broker of a renowned clinic and diagnostic centre in the locality, however, said doctor asked him to convince patients to go to private clinics. “I get commission if I succeed to send patients to a clinic, he added.
Dr Farid Uddin Chowdhury, residential medical officer of the hospital, told the Dhaka Tribune that hospital had only 250 beds. But the hospital had to accommodate 500 to 600 patients everyday which was a job tough job for the staff of the hospital.
He said: “We feel embarrass when attendants of patients want food from us, but we can not give them that.”
Dr ABM Ahsanullah, superintendent of hospital, said he was aware of the matter. “We will look into the matter,” he said.
