135-Year-old Pakshi Railway Hospital faces manpower shortages

The 135-year-old historic Pakshi Railway Hospital in Ishwardi, Pabna, has lost much of its former glory due to manpower shortages, a lack of modern medical equipment and poor management.

Once bustling with patients and keeping doctors and nurses constantly busy, the hospital is now eerily quiet. Admission of patients to the 44-bed inpatient department has remained suspended for nearly two years. Only outpatient services are currently available.

When serious patients arrive, they are given initial treatment and then referred to Rajshahi Railway General Hospital, Ishwardi Upazila Health Complex or other hospitals. Yet, there was a time when between 100 and 150 patients were admitted to the hospital.

Dr Md Shakil Ahmed, Divisional Medical Officer of Pakshi, said, “The main reason for the decline in the hospital’s condition is the shortage of manpower. We are running the hospital with only one-third of the required workforce. Letters have been sent to the higher authorities seeking manpower. If adequate staff are appointed, it will be possible to restore medical services to their former standard.”

Pakshi Divisional Railway Manager Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal said adequate doctors and manpower would improve the quality of services and that the railway authorities were aware of the matter.