People in Khulna are failing to get health services even near their
necessity due to the multifarious problems the upazila health
complexes in the district are beset with.
Almost all the health complexes in the district, including those of
Rupsha, Dighalia and Terokhada upazilas, are unable to provide basic
treatment to the patients for acute shortage of medical and other
staff and lack of necessary equipment and other logistics.
Some health complexes have X-ray machines but no technician to operate
those while some have technician but no X-ray machine.
Defying the government instruction, many doctors of the upazila health
complexes live in Khulna.
As a result, the upazila level public hospitals are failing to render
required health services to the common people.
DR ABM Golam Faruq Sarwar, health and family planning officer of
Rupsha Upazila Health Complex, said two posts of night guards remain
vacant in the health complex at present, leaving its security weak.
There is an ambulance but no one to drive it.
The pathological laboratory of the hospital remains closed for long
for absence of a health technician.
The posts of residential medical officer, medical consultant and
surgery consultant are lying vacant for long.
In Batiaghata health complex, only two people are employed against
nine sanctioned posts.
Only one guard is posted for providing security to the entire complex,
health official Dr Shushanta Kumar Roy said.
Terokhada health complex has none of X-ray machine or technician.
Although the 50-bed health complex was inaugurated by the local MP, it
has not yet got the administrative approval.
As a result, the health complex is running with its earlier 31-bed status.
Against 15 posts sanctioned, only five officials, are working in the
health complex, upazila health official Dr Abdul Naser said.
Patients at Dakope health complex are being deceived by a group.
The health officer of the hospital has a private clinic at Gallamari
in the city.
Since there is no good treatment at the health complex, the patients
are transferred from here to the clinic.
Koira health complex is virtually kept hostage by an employee of the
health complex.
Dumuria health complex has an X-ray technician but no X-ray operator.
Dighalia health complex health officer Dr Ishaq Ali said there is one
consultant in the gynecology department of the hospital but no
consultant in other departments.
In Fultala health complex, the lone X-ray machine has remained out of
order for the last 12 years.
Paikgachha health complex also faces an acute crisis of manpower.
Health officer Dr Abul Fazal said although the 50-bed hospital was
approved in December 2009, but the project has not yet been absorbed
in the revenue sector.
Alongside the unhealthy condition of the nine upazial health complexes
in Khulna, the condition of Khulna University Hospital is also the
same.
The acting chief health officer of the Khulna University Hospital is
reportedly employed at a private office on the Ahsan Road in the city.
-UNB
