DUMURIA, KHULNA, June 10: Patients at Dumuria Upazila Health Complex in Khulna are facing severe suffering as they are allegedly not finding doctors on duty despite official attendance records showing their presence.
On Wednesday morning, patients were seen waiting for hours without consultation. Many returned home without treatment, while doctors’ chambers remained locked and corridors echoed with frustration.
A field visit around 9:50 am found no doctors in their designated chambers, although the official duty time starts at 9:05 am. When asked, staff members said doctors were “seeing patients upstairs.” However, only one medical officer was reportedly found attending patients during the visit.
Several sources and patients alleged that some doctors were attending private clinics first and then coming to the government hospital to sign attendance.
Patients and their relatives said this is not an isolated incident. They claimed doctors often arrive late�"sometimes at 10am or 11am�"and leave by 1pm, depriving rural patients of essential healthcare services.
Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Kajol Mallik acknowledged irregularities, saying some doctors were not found in their rooms despite attendance records. He added that explanations have been sought and disciplinary action has already begun.
The civil surgeon (CS) also said the matter would be investigated and necessary steps taken, appreciating media monitoring of public hospitals.
Dumuria Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sabita Sarkar said the issue would not be tolerated. She warned that if explanations were unsatisfactory, strict departmental and administrative action would be taken in coordination with district authorities.
She further said surprise inspections would be increased to ensure doctors’ presence during duty hours, stressing a “zero tolerance” approach to negligence in public healthcare.
