The Betagi Upazila Health Complex in Barguna is failing to provide necessary health care to patients because of an acute crisis of doctors, with 25 of the 27 posts for physicians lying vacant.
The 50-bed facility is being run by Dr Rustom Ali, who is also the incumbent health and family planning officer of the upazila, reports UNB.
Besides being understaffed, the hospital is also facing problems due to a lack of sufficient medical equipment, forcing patients in need of advanced medical care to travel to hospitals as far afield as the divisional town and even in the capital.
In addition, the X-ray and ECG (Electrocardiography) machines have been out of order for the past four years.
According to sources, two medical officers of the complex, Lutfur Rahman and Byezitur Rahman, went to Dhaka to attend a training course on September 13 are not likely to return anytime soon.
To fill the gap created by their absence, Sagar Kumar Dutt, previously a deputy medical officer of a community clinic in Bibichini union, was reassigned to the complex. However, this was not enough to fill the gap.
Rustom Ali, said the higher authorities were informed of the manpower crisis as well as the shortage of equipment.
Barguna has not had a gynaecologist for the past one and a half years, said Civil Surgeon AHM Zahirul Islam, so “the problem with healthcare is not limited to Betagi only,” he added.
“Most of the posts for physicians as well as medical officers in the hospitals have remained vacant for long,” he said.
