Health care is being disrupted due to the shortage of doctors and work force at the Kanthaltali 20-bed hospital in Mirzaganj of Patuakhali. Even after 16 years of inauguration, the inter-department has not been launched yet. However, the exterior is still open functioning barely. As a result, lakhs of people in five unions of three upazilas are deprived of health care.
Only one medical officer and one sub-assistant medical officer depend on the patients in the hospital. Although these problems have been reported to the concerned authorities several times, no solution has been found even in 16 years.
It is known that the hospital is located in Kanthaltali Bazar of Madhavkhali Union, 20 kilometers away from the upazila headquarters. South of it are Mirzaganj and some parts of Amragachia Union of the upazila.
Padrishibpur union of Bakerganj upazila of Barisal in the north. Bibichini Union of Betagi Upazila in the west. The hospital was inaugurated in 2006 to provide medical services to the residents of Kanthaltali suburb including these five unions.
According to hospital sources, on paper, there are supposed to be 23 posts including 4 junior consultants, 2 health officers, 5 senior staff nurses, 2 ward boys, one medical technologist, pharmacist, security guard. But at present there is one Medical Officer, one Deputy Assistant Medical Officer and one Ward Boy working. As a result, the workers have to struggle to serve the patients.
Former UP member Salim Howladar, a local resident, said that the hospital is in name and not in use. During the day, two doctors came and saw patients in the outpatient department.
Hospital doctor. Riazul Islam said, the hospital has equipment and manpower-crisis. Only a few medicines are given from the Upazila Health Complex with which the outpatient department is functioning. An adequate supply of medicines would have resulted in a large number of patients and would have received proper care.
Upazila Health Officer Dr Ten Mong said that the financial allocation code for Kanthaltali 20-bed hospital has not been prepared. The hospital has been kept running with some medicines from the allocation of Upazila Health Complex. There are two doctors attached. Senior officials have been informed about the shortage of doctors and manpower through letters.
