JASHORE — Patient care at Chowgachha Model Hospital in Jashore, a 16-time national award winner for medical services, is suffering from a severe staff shortage, with nearly 100 of 210 positions vacant.
The hospital sees an average of 500 to 600 patients a day — women, men and children — and the shortfall is hurting service quality, officials said.
Administrative sources said the Chowgachha Upazila Health Complex has 210 sanctioned posts, of which 100 are vacant.
Of 32 sanctioned doctor positions, 12 are shown as filled on paper. But three of those 12 have been absent from duty for years. Two others are on attachment elsewhere and one is in training. Of the remaining six, two hold administrative posts. Of the four medical officers left, one must do night duty and gets the following day off. Only three doctors see patients in the outpatient department. The top-ranked model hospital’s outpatient services are now running on just three medical officers.
Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Ahsanul Mizan Rumi said Medical Officer Mridul Kanti has been absent from duty since 2014. Medical Officers Sayma Nahid Shanta and Golam Rasul (orthopedic) have been absent since 2022, he said.
“Even though they are absent from duty, they are still shown as posted in Chowgachha year after year. Until their names are removed, no new doctor can be posted to these positions,” Rumi said. Repeated letters to senior health officials seeking action against the absentee doctors have not produced results, he said.
Medical Officer Faria Yasmin and pediatric consultant Abdus Samad are on deputation at Jashore 250-bed General Hospital. Pediatric specialist Dr. Abdus Samad and Medical Officers Rabiul Islam and Faria Yasmin were already on deputation at the same hospital.
Critical anesthesia and pediatric specialist positions exist on paper but are not filled in practice. Another 20 doctor positions are vacant.
Construction of a 100-bed extension building, costing several crore taka, has been completed but has not been handed over for service.
Of the third- and fourth-class staff positions — including head clerk, cashier, office assistant, MLSS, ward boys and ayahs — 63 are vacant. The hospital is now operating on a patchwork of staff.
Hospital sources said that in earlier years, former gynecology department doctor Imdadul Haque worked to ensure better care for expectant mothers. For its contribution to maternal and child care, the hospital was recognized as the country’s top upazila-level hospital every year from 2004 to 2014. It also won a national award in 2018. In 2020, it ranked first nationwide in health care and received the “Health Minister National Award.” Most recently, the hospital won the country’s top award for the 2022-23 fiscal year.
Sokhi Khatun, a resident of Kayarpara Abu Kalam Burindia in Chowgachha upazila, was among several residents who said getting emergency care at the hospital had become difficult. After 2:30 p.m., many staff cannot be found, she said. As a result, patients with minor problems are forced to travel to Jashore General Hospital and various private health centers. Care at the once top-ranked hospital is no longer what it used to be, residents said.
Rumi said applications had been filed both online and on paper to fill the vacant positions. “Total staffing is 210. Of those, 120 are currently working and 90 positions are vacant,” he said.
Asked about the situation, the Jashore civil surgeon said the Chowgachha matter was on his radar and efforts were underway to increase staffing.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report