Patients at Khulna Medical College and Hospital (KMCH) have been struggling to receive proper treatment due to overcrowding and manpower shortage. The authorities of KMCH have been scrambling to provide treatment due to bed shortage as the number of patients is three times higher than the capacity of the 500-bed hospital. Besides, physicians at the outdoor department of the hospital are also having a difficult time with 1500 patients on average every day seeking medical treatment. 3 KMCH doctors missing since Friday Deputy director of KMCH, Dr Niaz Mustafi Chwodhury, said a record number of patients are thronging at the hospital as the authorities have expanded healthcare services after opening new departments. “Though we are struggling a lot to provide medical services to the record number of patients, we are trying our best,” he said. Clash with medicine traders: KMCH students boycott classes During a recent visit to the hospital, this UNB correspondent found that the floors, veranda, and staircases near the entrance of the hospital building are overcrowded with patients. Many were receiving treatment, resting on mats on the floor, close to the bathroom and staircases due to shortage of beds. Jahangir Alam, who came to the hospital with his father from Rupsha upazila, said, “I brought my father with respiratory problems. He has been receiving treatment on the floor of the veranda for the past seven days. My father is suffering a lot due to the heat as there is no fan in the veranda.” The staff of the hospital are also responding slowly as they are unable to cope with the overwhelming number of patients. According to hospital sources, 81 posts under 31 wards of 16 departments at KMCH have remained vacant for a long period — forcing staff to deal with patients with inadequate manpower. KMCH intern doctors call for work abstention over clash between students and medicine traders

The death of a 55-year-old woman due to alleged negligence of some doctors at Khulna Medical College and Hospital (KMCH) sparked protest on Sunday. A scuffle took place between the interns and two sons of the patient when they want to ask them why they didn’t come to see their patient despite their repeated request before her death at 3 am, alleged the relatives of the patient. Later, the interns handed the two sons over to police and kept the body at the mortuary instead of handing it over to family, they claimed. Also read: Doctors, nurses of Maa-O-Shishu Hospital go on strike in Chattogram Abdur Razzak, husband of the patient Piarunnesa of Doulatpur upazila, said her wife was admitted to the hospital’s no 11-12 ward as she complained of chest pain on Friday morning. On Saturday, the condition of Piarunnessa deteriorated and her son Mostakim went to call a doctor to see her but they didn’t come.  Piarunnesa breathed her last at the hospital at 3am. Angered by the incident, Mostakim went to the interns’ room and sought explanation for their negligence. A heated argument took place that led to a scuffle among them. On information, police rushed in and detained  two other sons of Piarunnessa —Tariqul Islam Kabir and Saddam Hossain---in this connection. Intern Kamrul also beat up Saddam and tore down his shirt during the scuffle, Razzak alleged. They are now under the custody of Sonadanga Police Station. Also read: Sher-e-Bangla nurses go on strike over police attack on colleague Razzak also said the hospital authorities refused to hand over the body to the patient’s family. Resident Medical Officer of Khulna Medical College and Hospital Dr Suhash Ranjan Haldar said, “The body will be handed over after completing necessary formalities.” Asked about the detention of the two sons of the patient, he said police detained them for bringing the situation under control.

Amid an alarming surge in Covid-19 cases and deaths over the past few weeks, Khulna division is now clamouring for oxygen -- a component key in saving the lives of critical patients. While few hospitals in Khulna division have already run out of the life-saving gas, many other medical facilities are operating on the edge due to an acute shortage of oxygen. In the past week, seven breathless Covid-19 patients have died at Satkhira Medical College Hospital in Satkhira district due to the unavailability of oxygen. A probe has been ordered into the deaths on June 30. Also read: Dire situation at Jhenaidah as infections soar, Covid unit overrun, oxygen to run out in 3 days  In Khulna district, the largest specialised government hospital is overwhelmed by a sudden surge in Covid cases -- it has not only stopped corona testing but is also scrambling for beds and oxygen.

The Health Ministry is monitoring the health condition of United News of Bangladesh (UNB) correspondent Bisnu Prasad Chakrabortty, who fell sick after taking Coronavirus vaccine in Bagerhat.

A team of doctors at Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) successfully operated on schoolgirl Lamia, three days after she was critically injured last Friday by a stray bullet during shots fired by a contractor who was aiming at his daughter’s boyfriend.  

Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) has started the clinical trial of Japan’s Favipiravir drug to assess its safety and efficacy in treating Covid-19 patients.

A college student was stabbed to death at Naihati in Rupsha upazila of Khulna on Saturday night. 

Two more people, who were injured in a clash over establishing supremacy in Moshiali area of the city on Thursday, died at Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) early Friday, taking the death toll to four.   The deceased were identified as Saiful Islam, 35 and Zihad, 30 of the area.   SM Shafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Khanjahan Ali Police Station, said Saiful and Zihad succumbed to their injuries at night.   Earlier, two people were shot dead and nine others were injured in a clash between two local groups over establishing supremacy in Moshiali area under Khanjahan Ali Police Station in Khulna on Thursday night.   Most of the injured sustained gunshot wounds while Zihad was beaten by his rival. All the victims were taken to KMCH for treatment.   Additional police have been deployed in the area to avert further trouble, said OC.

A five-member probe body has been formed to investigate an allegation of providing fake coronavirus test report at Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH).

A physician, who was injured in a scuffle with a patient’s relatives at a private hospital, died on Tuesday evening while being treated at Shaheed Sheikh Abu Naser Specialised Hospital in Khulna.