Besides, their operation theaters have been shut for a long time due to the lack of skilled physicians. The poor people who come to government hospitals have to take treatment at private clinics at higher costs.

Sources said 31-bed Aditmari Upazila Health Complex was built for providing healthcare services to 300,000 people of eight unions in Aditmari upazila. Later, it was upgraded into a 50-bed hospital at a cost of Tk 5 crore after the 9th parliamentary election.

But no doctors or staff members were recruited to provide services. The posts of five junior consultants have remained vacant since the hospital was built while that of surgeons and anesthetists are also vacant.

This has led to the rusting of some costly medical equipment procured for the hospital.

Meanwhile, a medical officer skilled in surgery has recently been appointed but the lack of anesthetists is forcing the hospital authorities to keep the operation theater shut.

Sources at the hospital said all the five posts, including that of surgery, medicine, and gynecologist, remained vacant and the patients who need surgery have to be referred to other hospitals.

Recently, the hospital appointed medical officer Dr Lutfunnahar to the surgery department but the services at its Operation Theater remained suspended for lack of anesthetists.

The hospital has sent letters to the ministry seeking recruitment of consultants.

Abdul Majid, a patient from Gobordhan area in the upazila, said there are no physicians. “They referred me to another hospital. Now I’ve to spend money and undergo surgery at a private hospital. So, why did the government build a hospital spending so much money?”

In the case of pregnant mothers, people have to go through surgery at private clinics and foot the bills by selling land.

Aziar Rahman, a resident of Baura village in Patgram upazila, said: “There’s no doctor at Patgram Upazila Health Complex and the authorities concerned have referred me to Lalmonirhat Sadar hospital but I’ve completed my operation at a private clinic spending Tk 7,000.”

Lalmonirhat Civil Surgeon Dr Normilendu Roy said the operation theatres of four upazila health complexes remained shut since the beginning although all the medical equipment are available at the hospitals.

“The services are hampered due to lack of doctors. Already, letters have been sent to the ministry concerned seeking appointment of physicians but to no avail.”

Also read: Manpower shortage disrupts medical services at Bagerhat Sadar Hospital