Md. Mosabbir Ali from Moulvibazar :
About two lakh people live in Juri Upazila of Moulvibazar dominated by haor and tea gardens. Juri Health Complex is the only health care facility for this huge population. The hospital had 31 beds but was later upgraded to 50 beds. However, sufficient manpower has not increased in proportion to the demand. Healthcare is being provided by a handful of doctors and nurses. Basic tests like X-ray, ECG are not available here.
According to hospital sources, after the formation of Juri Upazila on August 24, 2004, an initiative was taken to construct a 31-bed hospital. After 10 years of land dispute case, construction of health complex started in Bachirpur area of upazila. Medical services in the hospital, built at a cost of around 22 crore Tk, started in 2018. The health center was upgraded from 31 beds to 50 beds in late 2019.
There is a shortage of doctors, nurses, third and fourth class employees. The post of Resident Medical Officer (RMO) is supposed to be available in the hospital but it is vacant. There are 2 out of 4 Junior Consultants. One of them is in Bishnath Health Complex and another is in Moulvibazar Sadar Hospital. There is only one against the post of three medical officers. There are five posts of junior specialist doctors in Paediatrics, Medicine, Anaesthesia, Surgery and Gynaecology.
Among them, doctors have been posted in anesthesia, surgery and gynecology departments, but they are working in other hospitals on deputation. There are only dentists. There are 7 out of 25 senior staff nurses. Remaining 18 posts are vacant. Midwives are 3 out of 4 and there are 4 assistant health inspectors out of 6. None of the 2 health inspectors there are supposed to be 8-10 nannies but there are two on contract basis.
Moulvibazar civil surgeon Dr. Chowdhury Jalaluddin Murshed said, that there is a shortage of doctors in all hospitals across the country. However, in Moulvibazar district, Juri Hospital has the most manpower shortage.
Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Samarjit Singh said that the hospital does not have the manpower it should have according to 50 beds. With very little manpower, patients have to be served with great difficulty.
Patients and their relatives said that the operation theater of the hospital is practically closed due to lack of doctors in the post of gynecology, surgery and anesthesia junior consultant. There is no medical care for maternity mothers. As there are no specialist doctors except dentists, the medical officer is their only hope. Because of this, low-income people including tea workers are deprived of health care.
Md. Belal Hossain, a service seeker, said that since X-ray services are not available, they are forced to undergo X-rays at various diagnostic centers. There is an additional charge of 400-500 taka for each x-ray. He demanded that the X-ray service should be started in the hospital to ensure the availability of government services to the common people. The doctors of the hospital said that 250-300 patients are receiving services in the outpatient department of the hospital every day. Besides, there are 30-40 admitted patients. The number of patients in the emergency department is more than 100.
However, recently 6 people including contractually like nannies, cleaners, and ward boys have been appointed. As there are not enough SACMOs in the emergency department, services are being provided by SACMOs in charge of community clinics.
Due to the lack of nurses in the hospital for a long time, there is a disruption in the service of the admitted patients. The issue of X-ray operation is under the notice of higher authorities. Initially, the lab was set up to conduct experiments.