Patients are not getting proper healthcare services from Zia Nagar Upazila Health Complex in Pirojpur as it has no indoor treatment facilities.
Although the health complex was established in 2009, the authority concerned is yet to introduce indoor healthcare services for lack of logistic supports.
Moreover, the outdoor services have almost become futile as physicians only provide prescriptions to the patients.
Zakir Hossain of Hoglabunia village at Morolganj upazila in Bagherhat came to the hospital on Sunday. He said, “My father is a heart patient. I took him to the hospital as I could not take him to Bagherhat for non-availability of transport."
Abdul Kuddus, a resident of Zianagar upazila headquarters, said he went to visit a doctor with his wife. The doctor only provided prescription to them and asked them to do tests from another hospital.
“If we have to go somewhere else, then why was this hospital built,” he asked.
A large number of patients were seen standing in queues in front of doctor’s chamber, but they apprehended that they would not be able to visit the doctor because of long queues.
Another inhabitant of the upazila headquarter and former commander of Zianagar upazila Muktijoddha Sangshad Belayet Hossain said: “The emergency department has not started yet.”
Upazila unit BNP President A Latif said, “As Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, who has been awarded life sentence for crimes against humanity, has contributed to the construction of the health complex. So, a group of people do not want the hospital to be run fully.”
Motiur Rahman, Awami League upazila unit president, “Around 125,000 people live in the upazila.
They have to travel around 18km to get treatment at the hospitals situated in Pirojpur town. I also demand the opening of services for indoor departments.”
Chief Assistant of Pirojpur Public Health Engineering Department Selim Ahmed said, “The hospital was built with a cost of Tk6 crore.”
Accountant of the health complex, Mithun Roy said, “There are 10 posts for doctors and 71 posts for third and fourth class employees. But only
three doctors and 58 third and fourth class employees are available in the hospital.”
Storekeeper Md Riaz Hossain said, “The health complex has been suffering from lack of beds and other equipment shortage for the last three years.”
He added, “Medicines last came a month ago. Contractors were hired to deliver stationery goods and foods on March 10.”
Upazila health and Family Planning Officer Prashanta Kumar Biswas said, “Around 150-200 patients come every day to take treatments. But they only get prescriptions.” Medical Officer of the health complex Tanzila Zaman said, “No waters are available in the hospital for doing regular works.
“As the administrative department cannot work properly, doctors are giving prescriptions without tickets.”
Civil Surgeon of the district Dr Md Abdul Gani said, “The overall medical facilities and services will be available for patients soon.”
The hospital was built on five acres on land. The construction work ended in 2008 and the hospital remained open for patients since 2009.
“If we have to go somewhere else, then why was this hospital built,” he asked.
