100-bed Katiadi hospital still operating as 50-bed facility

KATIADI, KISHOREGANJ, Oct 7: Although the Katiadi Upazila Health Complex has infrastructure for 100 beds, it is still operating as a 50-bed facility due to a shortage of doctors and other manpower.

The hospital has a new building, operation theatre, X-ray and ultrasonography machines, built at a cost of Tk 36 crore. However, surgeries have remained suspended for nearly two years due to a lack of specialist doctors. X-ray and ultrasonography services are also unavailable.

The hospital was upgraded from 50 to 100 beds through an infrastructure development project that began on November 6, 2022. Construction was completed in May 2024, and two floors of the new building have been in use since December 2025 with approval from the Kishoreganj civil surgeon.

However, manpower has not increased.

Of the 34 sanctioned doctor posts for the 50-bed facility, only 14 are currently filled. Three of them are attached to other institutions, leaving only 11 doctors directly providing services at Katiadi.

All 10 sanctioned consultant posts are vacant, said Dr Syed Md Shahriar, Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer.
“Consultants in surgery, gynaecology and anaesthesiology are particularly essential. In their absence, surgical procedures have been disrupted despite having a well-equipped operation theatre,” he said.

The last C-section at the hospital was performed in 2024. Since then, C-sections and other surgeries have remained suspended due to the absence of specialists in gynaecology, surgery and anaesthesia, hospital sources said.

The hospital has an X-ray machine, but no technician to operate it. X-ray services started in 2023 but 
stopped in 2024 after the technician left.

The ultrasonography machine is also unused due to a shortage of skilled manpower. Hospital sources said the service was last provided in 2020.

Meanwhile, patient pressure on the hospital continues to rise. According to hospital data, 2,215 patients received treatment at the outpatient department, 450 at the emergency department and 749 through inpatient and other services in August. The hospital conducted 78 normal deliveries that month.

On average, 55-60 patients remain admitted daily. The number was 66 on September 30.

Mariam Akter, a patient, said she had to go to a private facility for an ultrasonography test after doctors advised her to undergo the examination.

Nayeb Ali said his granddaughter also had to undergo an X-ray outside the hospital after doctors advised the test.

“It costs more to get tests done outside. It is difficult for poor patients like us,” he said.

Dr Shahriar said 1,000-1,500 patients visit the outpatient department every day, while more than 150 receive treatment at the emergency department and around 60 patients remain admitted.

He said the process of approving manpower for the 100-bed facility was underway.

“If at least 50 percent of the vacant posts are filled along with the necessary specialists, patient referrals will decrease and the hospital will be able to provide better healthcare to a large population,” he said.

Kishoreganj Civil Surgeon Dr Mohammad Saidur Rahman said the manpower shortage was a nationwide problem.

“The process of recruiting new doctors has begun. We hope the shortage will be resolved once recruitment is completed,” he said.

Kishoreganj-2 MP Advocate Md Jalal Uddin said he was working to address the problems.