According to sources at the hospital, posts of 11 doctors out of 24 have long been lying vacant, hampering its services and causing sufferings to patients.

During a visit to the hospital, the UNB correspondent found patients waiting in a number of queues to collect coupons for treatment.

Some patients were waiting in front of Medicine, Cardiology and Skin Disease departments without knowing that the doctors concerned were, in fact, on leave.

Marzina Begum who came to the hospital with eye problems and many others like her said they were returning home without meeting doctors after a long wait.

Dr Mashiur Rahman, Residential Medical Officer (RMO) of the hospital, said five senior consultant posts at orthopedics, gynecologist, surgery, eye, anesthesia departments, consultant post at pediatric, junior consultant post at radiology department, post of a pathologist and three medical officers’ posts remain vacant.

“It’s very tough to provide proper medical services with this small number of physicians,” he said.

The hospital sources said the posts of five nurses, four of class III employees and three of class IV employees are lying vacant at the hospital.

Civil Surgeon Dr GKM Shamshuzzaman said the 100-bed hospital is running with the manpower of 50-bed hospital where over 150-160 patients remain admitted every day.

He said Dr Kamrun Sattar, a senior consultant at Gynecology department, was transferred to other hospital just after her joining.

On the other hand, he said a junior consultant of Anesthesia department remained absent without permission.

The 50-bed Bagerhat Sadar Hospital was established in 1970 in Muniganj area which was upgraded into a 100-bed one on March 14, 1992 without recruiting any additional manpower.