400-bed hospital running with 100-bed manpower

JOYPURHAT, Sept 16: Joypurhat General Hospital, upgraded from 250 beds to 400 beds on July 2, is still operating with manpower meant for a 100-bed facility, leaving patients deprived of adequate healthcare services.

The hospital now regularly has nearly twice as many inpatients as its official capacity. Around 700-800 patients remain admitted every day, forcing about 400 additional patients to receive treatment on ward floors, verandas and corridors.

The situation is compounded by the heavy outpatient load. An average of 1,500-1,600 patients seek treatment at the outdoor department every day.

Doctors, nurses and other staff are struggling to cope with the huge number of patients with limited manpower.

According to hospital authorities, a 400-bed facility requires 305 doctors, 235 nurses and 408 other staff members. But the hospital currently has only 31 doctors, 125 nurses and 45 other employees.
The hospital also lacks specialists in several key areas, including ear, nose and throat (ENT) and nephrology.

Kidney failure patients have been receiving dialysis at the hospital since 2022. Around 10 patients undergo dialysis every day. However, the hospital has never had a nephrologist since the service began.
Relatives of patients said appointing a nephrologist should be made an urgent priority.

The hospital's intensive care unit (ICU) has also remained non-operational despite being fully equipped for about four years. The unit cannot be opened because there is no anaesthesiologist, according to hospital officials.

As a result, patients requiring intensive care have to be referred to Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogura and other facilities. Relatives have to transport critically ill patients elsewhere, often at considerable risk. Some patients reportedly die on the way, while the situation is particularly difficult for poor families.

The hospital also lacks modern diagnostic equipment such as CT scan and MRI machines. Many pathological tests are unavailable, forcing patients to have them done at private facilities outside the hospital.

Patients have also complained of shortages of medicines.

Manik, a patient from Dadra Jantigram Village in Joypurhat Sadar Upazila, said he had to buy syrup and injections from outside. Several other patients also complained of medicine shortages.

The hospital serves not only residents of Joypurhat but also patients from Hakimpur in Dinajpur, Dhamoirhat and Badalgachhi in Naogaon, Shibganj in Bogura and neighbouring areas because of its convenient road connections.

As the number of patients continues to rise following the upgrade, hospital staff say the shortage of manpower has become increasingly difficult to manage.

Dr Sardar Rashed Mobarak, Superintendent of the 400-bed hospital, said a requisition had been sent to the authorities seeking the required doctors, nurses and other staff.

“Patients will receive the services they need once the required manpower and medicines are provided as requested,” he said.