TANGAIL, Jan 13: Tangail General and Medical College Hospital is facing an unprecedented surge of patients suffering from diarrhoea, pneumonia, and other winter-related illnesses, leaving doctors and nurses overwhelmed.
At the 250-bed General Hospital, the number of diarrhoea patients is reported to be nearly ten times the available bed capacity, forcing staff to hang IV saline on trees in the hospital compound. Severe shortage of essential medicines is adding to the crisis.
Sources at the General Hospital said, the diarrhoea ward has only 13 beds, while 125 patients are currently admitted. On Sunday, 109 patients were admitted, and by Monday afternoon, 16 more had arrived. The pneumonia ward, with 20 beds in total, currently hosts 57 patients. Meanwhile, Tangail Medical College Hospital has no dedicated diarrhoea ward. Patients with diarrhoea are referred to the General Hospital while the 42-bed pneumonia ward is treating 66 patients.
On-site observations revealed crowded wards, patients lying on floors and verandas, and caregivers forced to procure medicines from outside at higher prices. IV drips are being administered outdoors, often suspended from small trees. Many patients, especially children and the elderly, are left without proper beds. Hospital authorities reportedly provide only basic saline and a few tablets.
Rokibul Hasan, a relative of a patient from Kalihaati, said, "My child suffered from severe diarrhoea. At Medical College, there was no bed, so we were sent to the General Hospital. We had to bring a mattress from home and buy most medicines at higher prices." Other relatives from Delduar, Basail, and Sadar Upazila echoed similar concerns about overcrowding and medicine shortage.
Hospital officials acknowledged the crisis. Dr. Sadikur Rahman, Deputy Director of the General Hospital, said, "Patients are being accommodated outside due to space constraints. From tomorrow, we will move some to wards 6 and 7. Additional medicines have been requested and will arrive soon." He also noted that only 44 doctors are managing 178 sanctioned posts, making it difficult to handle the patient load.
Medical College Hospital Director Dr. Abdul Khuddus said, "We have no diarrhoea ward, so such patients are referred to the General Hospital. The pneumonia ward is overcrowded, with 66 patients in 42 beds. Winter illnesses are at their peak, and adequate treatment is being provided. There is no shortage of medicines at our facility; the store is well-stocked, and medicines are provided according to patient needs."
The overcrowding and shortage of medicines highlight the strain on Tangail hospitals amid rising winter illnesses, leaving staff struggling to manage the crisis while ensuring patient care.
