Doctor shortage hampers healthcare at Amtali Health Complex

AMTALI, BARGUNA, Sept 23: A shortage of doctors and technical staff is hampering healthcare services at Amtali Upazila Health Complex, where some machines are available but there are no trained personnel to operate them, while several essential machines are also unavailable.

The 50-bed health complex has 43 sanctioned posts for doctors, including the upazila health and family planning officer. Against these, only 17 doctors are currently working, leaving 26 posts vacant for a long time.

As a result, healthcare services for around three lakh people in the upazila are being disrupted.

The hospital has an analogue X-ray machine but no technician to operate it. It also has a laboratory but no technician. There is no lab sample collection counter, gynaecologist, anaesthesia machine or ultrasonography machine.

Besides doctors, 40 of the 92 third-class posts, including statistician, cashier and storekeeper, are vacant. Another 17 of the 33 fourth-class posts, including ward boy, aya, gardener, cook, security guard and cleaner, have remained vacant for nearly five years.

The shortage of manpower has affected the overall activities of the health complex, officials said.

The upazila health and family planning officer also has to remain busy with administrative duties, further affecting patient services.

Many patients reportedly leave the facility without receiving the treatment they need and are forced to travel to Patuakhali Medical College Hospital, around 35 kilometres away, or Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal, around 75 kilometres away.

Although Barguna General Hospital is only around 15 kilometres away, many patients are reluctant to go there as they have to cross a river on the way.

Rabeya, a woman in her 60s from Haldia Village, recently went to the health complex after developing itching on her body.

“But I was told there was no doctor. We are poor people. I cannot afford to spend money to go somewhere else,” she said.

Dr Himel Pal, upazila health and family planning officer in charge, said the authorities had repeatedly been informed in writing about the shortage of doctors.

“If doctors are posted here, the crisis will be resolved,” he said.

Barguna Civil Surgeon Dr Abul Fattah said the shortage of doctors at the Amtali health complex had been brought to the attention of the director general of the Directorate General of Health Services.

“Doctors have been requested on an urgent basis,” he said.