United News of Bangladesh

Healthcare services at the Doarabazar Upazila Health Complex in Sunamganj have come under severe strain due to a prolonged shortage of doctors, exposing systemic issues and raising concerns over the government's inability to address the crisis effectively. Situated in a haor region, the government-run hospital is supposed to serve over 2.5 lakh residents across nine unions of the upazila, most of whom belong to low- and middle-income groups. But, the persistent lack of doctors and essential medical supplies has left the hospital barely functional, with community medical officers now running much of the operations in the absence of appointed physicians, according to officials at the hospital. Locals allege that irregularities and mismanagement during the tenure of the previous government have left long-lasting effects on the medical services of the facility. Despite the upgrade of the health complex from a 31-bed to a 50-bed hospital in 2023, the expansion remains incomplete, and key departmental positions continue to lie vacant—effectively limiting the hospital's functioning to its original capacity, they said. While the hospital has an operation theatre and a junior consultant in anaesthesiology, the absence of a gynaecology consultant has made caesarean deliveries impossible. Medical services at Jashore’s Chaugachha Upazila Health Complex suffer from acute physician shortage As a result, pregnant women from the remote region are compelled to travel to district or divisional hospitals in Sylhet, often at great financial cost and emotional distress. Patients in need of urgent care are frequently referred to hospitals in the district town or Sylhet due to the non-availability of doctors at Doarabazar. The situation is further exacerbated at the health complex’s Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) corner, which struggles with a shortage of essential medicines. Many patients are left untreated or must purchase necessary medications from outside sources, which many cannot afford. Despite an average of over 500 patients visiting the hospital daily, the chronic shortage of both doctors and support staff has left services severely disrupted. The human resource crisis extends beyond medical personnel, said the officials wishing anonymity. The post of cook has remained vacant for an extended period, and only one of five sweeper positions is currently filled. Of seven sanctioned midwife posts, only three are active, while all seven positions for office support staff remain unoccupied. Though the hospital is equipped with X-ray and ultrasonography machines, these remain idle due to a lack of technicians and doctors. Out of 25 sanctioned nurse posts, only 13 are currently serving—four of whom are enrolled in BSc Nursing programmes and are therefore unable to provide full-time service. The hospital also lacks a dental technologist. During a recent visit, several patients were seen admitted to the general wards with nurses attending, but no doctors were present. One patient remarked that “most medicines must be purchased from outside” and that “doctors are rarely available”—a sentiment echoed by others at the facility. Around a year ago, the situation deteriorated further when four key doctors, including the Residential Medical Officer (RMO), were transferred simultaneously. X-ray machine lies unused at Shalla upazila health complex corridor for 18 yrs The move left the hospital virtually doctorless and plunged its healthcare services into disarray. Acknowledging the severity of the situation, Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Md Abu Salehin Khan said, “We have been repeatedly informing higher authorities about the situation.” Despite repeated appeals, little progress has been made in resolving the crisis—leaving the people of Doarabazar in dire need of medical attention and with few places to turn.

Healthcare services at the Bagerhat 250-bed hospital have been severely hampered for years due to a shortage of doctors, inadequate funding, and an ongoing crisis of hospital beds. Despite being the district’s main healthcare facility, the hospital continues to operate with resources meant for a 100-bed capacity, locals say. According to hospital records, 33 out of 58 physician posts remain vacant, creating a critical gap in patient care. The anesthesiology department, essential for surgeries and emergency interventions, has only one junior consultant. Due to this shortage, treatments for cardiac, ophthalmological, and ENT (ear, nose, and throat) patients have been suspended. Other vital services remain non-functional. The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) has been shut down after running for just one year, and kidney dialysis services have yet to begin, forcing critically ill patients to seek treatment elsewhere. With 400 patients admitted daily—far exceeding the hospital’s 250-bed capacity—many are forced to sleep on the floor, even in winter. During a visit to the hospital, patients were found lying on the floors of corridors, stairways, and near nurses' counters due to a lack of space. Md Zahid, a patient from Muginj, has been receiving treatment on the floor for four days. "I haven't received any food from the hospital," he said. Other patients, Eskendar Ali Sardar and Zihad Talukdar, shared similar experiences. Patients struggle at Pangu Hospital with 'No Empty Bed' persistent claim Nurses say they are overwhelmed by the heavy workload. Each nurse attends to 40-45 patients daily, making it nearly impossible to provide quality care. “We receive food allocations for only 40 patients, but we often have 75 to 80 admitted, leaving many without meals,” said Nilufa Khanom, a nurse in the surgery department. "This creates conflicts between staff and patient families." Established in 1970 as a 50-bed facility, the hospital was upgraded to 100 beds in 1992 and later to 250 beds in January 2022. However, its staffing and funding have remained at the 100-bed level, failing to match the rising patient demand. Currently, out of 10 senior consultant posts, only two are filled, and only four consultants are available out of 15 posts. The situation is even worse in the anesthesiology department, where just one doctor is available out of six. Meanwhile, the outpatient department sees 1,200 to 1,500 patients daily, while the emergency unit handles 250 cases—putting immense pressure on the hospital’s limited staff. Dr. Taposh Kumar Sarkar, the hospital’s resident medical officer, admitted that the facility is struggling to provide proper care to 17 lakh people in the district. Students besiege Naogaon Sadar Hospital over irregularities "Despite increasing the hospital’s capacity, manpower and funding have not been adjusted accordingly," he said. "Under such conditions, ensuring patient satisfaction is nearly impossible." He urged the government and local stakeholders to intervene immediately, warning that without urgent measures, the crisis will only worsen.

Fifteen staff members, including senior doctors and nurses of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) have been suspended in connection with the killing that occurred near the university's cabin block during the anti-discrimination student movement in July. Proctor Sheikh Farhad confirmed this on Monday saying that an office order signed by Registrar Professor Dr Md Nazrul Islam was issued yesterday. He said the suspended staff members were involved in a fight, which had been captured in the video footage. The law enforcement will interrogate them to find out why they did it.The suspended staff include Dr Abu Torab Ali Mim from Cardiology, Dr Riaz Siddiqui Pran from Dermatology and Venereology, and Nitish Roy, a painter at the Hospital Directorate Office. Others include Md Saiful Islam, Kazi Mehedi Hasan, Assistant Dresser Shahidul Islam (Saidul), sweeper Sandeep, respiratory medicine assistant Ujjal Molla, driver Sujan Bishw Sharma, OPD-1 MLSS Fakrul Islam Jony, lab customer care attendant Rubel Rana, senior nurse Shabnam Nurani, and ward MLSS staff Shahadat, Munna Ahmed, and Anowar Hossain. BREB suspends 7 over electrocution of IUT students on picnic bus The office order stated that based on the decision of BSMMU's 94th syndicate meeting, the university suspended doctors, senior staff nurses, and employees involved in the killing near the cabin block during the mass uprising.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said her government will reach specialized healthcare services online to the upazilas so rural people get treatment from home. “We’re creating the scope so that they (the patients) can get specialized treatment sitting at their own locations and staying in upazilas,” she said. The premier said this while inaugurating the golden jubilee celebration and the 14th convocation of Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons (BCPS) at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre here, joining it through a virtual platform from her official residence Ganobhaban. Also read: Balance development with environment, PM tells at event on World Environment Day She said her government has installed web cameras at every upazila hospital. “We’ll improve it (the online services through web cameras) further. We’ve this plan so that they (patients) can avail the specialized treatment online.”  Hasina said though the government has already created the facility, it has a plan to improve it further so that the patients don’t need to come to Dhaka, rather they can avail the specialized healthcare services staying in their own areas. The prime minister urged the physicians to stay beside the people with a vow to provide them services instead of taking it merely as a profession. “I expect that you will stand beside the people with a vow to provide the services not just for the sake of profession,” she said. The patients may get half-healed hearing some good words from a physician, said the premier.  “Good words from a physician can work as cure and create confidence among patients in many cases,” said the premier. She stressed the need for more research in health science, improving the quality of healthcare services and raising public awareness about the outbreak of diseases. “The research in health science is very essential for us. You (the physicians) will pay more attention to the research,” she said, adding that it is also an important thing to keep the people protected from many diseases that break out in the country due to its weather and climate. “If our physicians can do such good jobs going abroad, why won’t they do it in our country? That is my question,” she said.

Chief Whip of the Jatiya Sangsad Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury on Tuesday stressed the need for ensuring good management in the health sector to increase public confidence further in the country’s healthcare services. “The Prime Minister has a special attention to the health sector of Bangladesh.  The number of hospitals and their beds has increased in the country.  The modern medical equipment and the number of specialist doctors and nurses have increased. Despite this, people are still going abroad for medical treatment,” he said. Read: Coronavirus: Ex-chief whip Shahid infected The chief whip was addressing as the chief guest at a programme in the Milon Hall of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU). Cancer Mission Foundation arranged the programme  to provide assistance to cancer patients. “It is essential for the doctors and hospital authorities to ensure good management so that the public confidence in the medical services of Bangladesh will increase further,” he said. Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury said the wheel of Bangladesh economy remains moving forward even amid the Covid-19 pandemic. It has been possible to tackle the pandemic due to the Prime Minister's foresight and timely decision-making as well as steps to reach the healthcare services to the doorsteps of the people, he said. He said many Bangladeshi meritorious doctors and teachers have shown their professional competence successfully in various reputed hospitals and education institutes in foreign lands. “Had they returned home and provided such services here, the nation would be benefited and the tendency of going abroad to receive treatment would decline largely,” said the Chief Whip. He urged all the concerned to work sincerely to ensure international standards in education and healthcare systems. Read:Short, long-term plans needed for water transport sector: Chief whip Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury said hadn’t Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman been born, Bangladesh would not be independent. And hadn’t his abled daughter Sheikh Hasina been in the government, the development pace of Bangladesh would not have accelerated, she said. Many mega projects, including construction of Padma Bridge, Metro Rail, Nuclear Power Plant and Karnaphuli Tunnel are possible due to the sincerity, honesty, hard-work and competent leadership of the Prime Minister, said the Chief Whip. BSMMU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Md Sharfuddin Ahmed, and Housing and Public Works Secretary Md Shahid Ullah Khandaker also spoke at the function presided over by President of Cancer Mission Foundation Prof Dr Md Moniruzzaman, said a press release.

The Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute Bill, 2021 was placed in Parliament on Monday, aiming to improve healthcare services for children. Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque placed the Bill and it was sent to the respective Standing Committee for further examination.  Read: Medical College (Governing Bodies) (Repeal), Bill 2021 placed in parliament The Committee was asked to submit its report within seven days. The bill was designed in line with the Dhaka Children Hospital Ordinance, 2008. The draft law was prepared merging Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital and Bangladesh Institute of Child Health for ensuring better healthcare services for children. At present, Bangladesh Institute of Child Health is the academic wing of Dhaka Shishu Hospital. The Dhaka Shishu Hospital Ordinance, 2008 was promulgated during the caretaker government in 2008. Some 54 ordinances, out of 122, promulgated during the caretaker government were approved in Parliament following the recommendations of the special committee of the 9th parliament.  Read:Medical Degrees (Repeal) Bill placed in JS But the Dhaka Shishu Hospital Ordinance and 67 others were not endorsed at that time. Dhaka Shishu Hospital, established in 1977, became an autonomous institute under an ordinance promulgated in 2008 by the then interim government. The Bangladesh Institute of Child Health was established in 1983 as an academic wing of Dhaka Shishu Hospital. So, there is no complete law or ordinance over regulation and supervision of the activities of Dhaka Shishu Hospital. As per the 21 article of the draft law, there will be a 12-member board of directors to run the hospital as an autonomous body. Read: Bill passed to ensure safe child daycare centres A director of the hospital would be the executive officer of the hospital while each director would be appointed for three years. At least 30 seats would be reserved for child patients of poor families, he mentioned referring to a provision of the bill.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said the government will set up community vision centres in all upazilas across the country in phases to provide better eyecare services to local people.

The government will soon fix the fees of healthcare services at different private hospitals as per their service standards in a bid to reduce the harassment of patients, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Sunday.

Bidyanondo Foundation, a voluntary organisation, and Bangladesh Coastguard are jointly going to launch a floating hospital ‘Jibon Kheya’ to provide poor people living along rivers with healthcare services.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday alleged that people are being deprived of medical services as the country’s health sector has collapsed due to corruption by the "government".