Poor state health services in Bishwanath: Doctors and medicine shortage in health centers
S A Shofiee, Sylhet:
Bishwanath upazila in Sylhet district, with a population of about 250,000, has only one upazila health center, 5 sub-centers, a family planning center and 19 community clinics. Compared to the population, the medical system in the upazila is inadequate. And these are insignificant for primary treatment of people in 8 unions. As a result, this expatriate-dominated township near Sylhet lags far behind in medical services. The residents of the upazila are angry and distressed about this as they are deprived of civil rights. Although various demands, including improving the quality of medical centers and treatment, have been made for a long time, the demands have remained unfulfilled for ages.
A visit to the upazila on the ground revealed widespread irregularities, negligence in healthcare, shortage of medicines and doctors, unsanitary conditions, and lack of services for service recipients. There are allegations of stealing medicines from health centers and selling them to various pharmacies.
Mismanagement and irregularities have become the norm in every sub-health center and upazila complex! Service seekers are turning away due to the lack of officials, employees, nannies, and guards in hospitals, sub-health centers, and community clinics. They are leaning towards private medical care. But it is quite difficult for low-income people to receive private medical care. They are living a difficult life with diseases due to being deprived of government medical care.
The poor residents of this township are at extreme health risk due to carrying diseases in their bodies for a long time due to the economic crisis. There is one 50-bed upazila health complex in this upazila with an area of 214.50 square kilometers.
According to the information provided by Upazila Health Officer Delwar Hossain Sumon, there are only 2 doctors here despite the posts of 5 doctors. There are no doctors in Dighali sub-health center of Lamakazi Union No. 1, Bishwanath Sadar Union Health Center, Dashghar Union Health Center, and Alonkari Union Health Center. These centers only have one family welfare inspector and midwife post, and in some cases, two doctors. An average of 15-20 patients come to these health centers every day. But due to the lack of medicines and doctors, patients have to return empty-handed.
When I spoke to Nilima Rani Das, the family planning officer of Bishwanath Sadar Union Health Center, she said that there has been no center in-charge or doctor at this center for 3 years.
It was seen on the spot that she and a midwife officer named Sakhina Akhtar are living with their family on the upper floor of a two-story building. After looking at the records, it was seen that on average, no more than 2 patients come here daily. Nilima Rani Das said that people do not get medicine, there is no medicine in the center. However, a year and a half ago, a lot of patients used to come.
What I found when I went to the Dighali Health Complex of Lamakaji Union Parishad No. 1 is shocking. There have been three thefts at the center in the last one year. These thefts occurred after August 5 last year. Although the police were informed, no thief was caught, and the goods were not recovered. There are a total of 4 posts in the center. But only 2 people are providing medical services – a deputy assistant and a midwife officer.
Since this center is located near the northern border of the upazila, there is no strong surveillance by the administration and as a result, the working doctors suffer from insecurity – said the deputy assistant doctor of the center Dr. Akij Uddin to MT information. He claims that if security guards and cleaners were appointed here and the center was brought under CCTV, they could have provided services without any problems.
The center used to receive an average of 10 to 15 maternity services every month, and 40 to 50 outpatients every day. But due to the lack of medicines, this number has now come down to 3 to 5 people – Dr. Akij Uddin said that the number of patients has been decreasing for about 10 months due to shortage of medicines. I have been at this center for two years. Earlier, the patient pressure could not be handled, but now I cannot give medicine to those who come. Due to this, the patient pressure is decreasing. There is another health center in Bhurki Bazar of Lamakazi Union. In this center, there are only 3 people instead of 5 officials. I spoke to the family planning inspector of this center, AKM Shamsuzzaman Milon.
He said that the number of patients has decreased due to the shortage of medicine. Now they spend their time sitting and chatting.
Ragib Ali, a service recipient of the upazila health center, complained that there is no medicine here, no doctor.
I am suffering from multiple diseases including diabetes. I got some medicine here. The rest has been asked to be bought from outside.
According to the information of Bishwanath Upazila Assistant Family Planning Officer Nani Gopal Sarkar, there are 42 posts of Family Planning Officers (FWA) across the upazila, but 28 are working. There are 5 people working in Lamakazi Union, 5 in Khajanchi Union, 4 in Alankari Union, 4 in Rampasha Union, 5 in Daulatpur Union, 3 in Deoklas Union and 2 in Dashghar Union. There is also a shortage of medicines.
Bishwanath Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Delwar Hossain Sumon said that 300 to 400 patients come to the 50-bed hospital daily for services in the indoor and outdoor departments. But service provision is being disrupted due to manpower shortage. There is also a shortage of medicines. The attention of the concerned authorities has been drawn to an ambulance driver.
Civil Surgeon of Sylhet Dr. Mohammad Nasir Uddin was not available when contacted on mobile in this regard.
