Manpower crisis at Ishwardi Upazila Health Complex

Ishwardi (Pabna) Correspondent :

Upazila Health Complex of Ishwardi, recognized as an area of public importance, has only 50 beds on paper. Residents of Ishwardi are deprived of minimum medical services due to lack of authorized manpower, equipment and expert doctors. About 40,000 people including 5,000 foreigners are currently working in Rooppur Nuclear Power Project and EPZ in Ishwardi. In addition, about four lakh local people live in the upazila. Need 100 bed hospital. Accident, stroke and minor complicated patients are sent to Rajshahi or elsewhere, doctors are freed from liability. The referred patient died on the way without receiving minimum medical care at the hospital. The country’s medical system is now questionable as this type of incident has happened several times in the case of foreigners.
However, Ishwardi Upazila Health Complex has received 12 national awards and medals for its special contribution to health care. However, it won these awards in various categories including emergency obstetric care and management. Doctors are unable to provide services due to shortage of manpower in the 50-bed hospital. The pressure of patients in the outpatient department, increase in the scope of services, 24-hour patient movement in the emergency department all together make the working doctors miserable. Added to this is the consultant crisis. According to the patient pressure, the number of consultants here is very less. The situation in the administrative department is even worse. Authorities said the manpower crunch has been brought to the attention of higher authorities. Every day 500 to 600 general patients come for treatment in the outer ward of the health complex. Emergency department also has patient pressure 24 hours. There are only 4 as against 11 consultant posts. Seven people are undergoing medical treatment. There are no doctors specializing in Gynecology and Medicine in the emergency department.
The post of cashier has been vacant for three months. Chief Office Assistant Abul Kashem retired four months ago. As there is no one, he is still working at the request of the authority. The posts of store keeper and office assistant are also vacant for three years. Wardboy 1 instead of 2, Cook 1 instead of 2, Sweeper 3 instead of 5 and MLSM instead of 4 only 2 people are working.
Authorities said that the work is being managed in coordination with everyone.