Kurigram Correspondent:
Although the 250-bed Kurigram General Hospital is the only major healthcare center for about two million people in the district, the quality of service is being severely hampered due to a long-standing manpower and infrastructure crisis. The hospital itself is plagued by ‘incurable’ problems due to various limitations.
178 doctors needed, only 23 working:
According to the hospital administration, the institution, which started its journey as a 50-bed hospital in 1968, was upgraded to 250 beds in 2017. Currently, although 178 doctors are needed, only 23 are working. There is a clear shortage of senior consultants in important departments.
There is no senior consultant in the departments of medicine, surgery, gynecology and cardiology. Half of the junior consultant posts are vacant. In addition, the posts of medical officer, indoor medical officer, registrar and assistant registrar are also vacant.
Services disrupted by doctor shortage:
Due to the doctor shortage, doctors are struggling to provide services to patients in the outpatient department and wards. Although more than 500 patients are admitted every day, in many cases, doctors are seen only once a day. In the emergency department, primary treatment is often provided by assistant community medical officers (SECMOs). As a result, complaints of wrong treatment and medical negligence are also being raised.
Long wait for treatment:
It becomes difficult for patients admitted after noon to get immediate specialist treatment. In many cases, patients have to wait until the next day to show their test reports. This has reached the peak of the suffering of the patients.
No ICU and NICU facilities:
Although a new 8-storey building of the hospital has been constructed, ICU or NICU facilities have not been introduced there. As a result, serious patients have to be sent to Rangpur Medical College Hospital. This is creating a risk of death for many patients on the way.
Useless medical equipment:
The hospital does not have CT scan and MRI machines. Although there are echocardiogram, endoscopy and laparoscopy machines, they have been useless for a long time. Due to the lack of modern autoclave machines, there is also a problem in sterilizing the operating equipment. In addition, some valuable medical equipment supplied is lying unused in the store, which is depriving patients of services.
Manpower crisis and health risks:
There is a severe crisis of third and fourth class employees. Patient service is being disrupted due to the lack of nannies, ward boys, cleaners and security guards. New recruitment is also stopped due to the court ban.
On the other hand, the hospital’s waste management is also very weak. The condition of the bathrooms in the wards is poor, there is no bathing facility. Medical waste is being dumped in the nearby pond, which poses a serious risk to public health.
Hospital superintendent Dr. Nur Newaz Ahmed said, “There is a crisis in various fields, including doctors. We have repeatedly informed the higher authorities. Although four doctors have recently joined, the demand has not been met. We are trying to provide services with limited facilities.”
Due to long-standing mismanagement, manpower and equipment shortages, the quality of services at Kurigram General Hospital is gradually deteriorating. Those concerned believe that unless effective initiatives are taken quickly, the healthcare of the large population of the district will be further jeopardized.