Poor medical, bank services during eid in Barisal

Hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centers in Barisal have already started going into vacation mood, with doctors and staff leaving for Eid vacations.   At Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, 591 out of 730 doctors and nurses will be on weeklong Eid vacations. In addition, 187 out of 205 interns, 265 out of 350 staff nurses, 139 out of 175 staff including registrars, assistant registrars, emergency, indoor and outdoor medical officers will be on leave.   The state-owned hospital is the only specialised health service provider in the region. Only a handful of physicians and staff are assigned for during Eid week at the hospital.    Anowar Zahid, a health rights activist, told our correspondent that the hospital had started to release several patients before Eid, many not fully recovered, so that it would have to handle fewer patients during the vacation.   "We cannot deny anyone the right to leave on Eid vacation. Besides, doctors and nurses of other religions and city residents will be available for service," said SBMCH Director Dr Ferdous Alam.   "The private clinics and hospitals have made special but very limited arrangements compared to public hospitals," he said.   "Most of the times they just refer the patients to us," the director added.   An average of 1,200 patients come for indoor treatments to this 500 bed hospital every day. However, the number of patients during Eid holidays is expected to be around 500 to 600. On Sunday 667 patients were admitted to SBMCH.   So the shortage of manpower will not have much effect, Deputy Director Dr. Qamrul Islam Selim explained.   On other hand, general people and businessmen may also suffer due to closed banks and disruption of ATM services during the holidays.   After visiting different ATM booths of both public and private banks it was found that most ATM booths often ran of cash or were out of network and remained closed as concerned bank officials were not available.   Almost all businessmen in the city will face problems with the large amount of cash collected from last moment Eid sales, said Abdur Rahim, owner of Maiyuri Departmental Store.   Saidur Rahman Rintu, president of Barisal Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said the closing of banks has caused customer and businessmen to suffer.   The central bank's Barisal office said all public and private banks in the district have been asked to take necessary steps for depositing and withdrawing cash and to ensure undisrupted ATM and mobile banking services during the Eid rush.