Doctor shortage in Kurigram General Hospital’s emergency department, death toll rising

Kurigram General Hospital is in a state of emergency. There are only 18 doctors working there against 250 beds, where there are 177 doctor posts. As a result, relatives complain that patients are dying one after another in the emergency department without getting the necessary treatment. On the other hand, patients have to wait for hours in the outpatient department, yet they are not able to see a doctor. In such a situation, the hospital authorities have become helpless. Relatives of the deceased in the emergency department are crying and angry. Even in the outpatient department, patients are not able to see a doctor even after waiting for a long time. Such a scene is seen on the ground at the 250-bed Kurigram General Hospital. The hospital was upgraded from 100 beds to 250 beds in 2016 to ensure better medical services to about 2.4 million people in Kurigram district. However, the necessary doctors and other manpower have not been appointed. Occasionally, the emergency department is being run by DMFs (medical assistants). In the last one month, there have been complaints of patients dying in the emergency department of the hospital without getting the necessary treatment. The same picture is seen in the outpatient and inpatient departments of the hospital. Despite paying for tickets and waiting for hours, patients do not see a doctor. Medicines are also not available at many times. Faruk Mia, who came to the hospital for services, said, “There is no doctor in this hospital. We have to wait for 3 hours to see a doctor and then go back. There are not always doctors in the emergency department. I saw on Facebook that three patients have died in the emergency department of this hospital in the last one month. Instead of a doctor, a DMF was sitting in the emergency department, but he also did not want to see the patient.” Mizanur Rahman of Palashbari Mandalpara area of Kurigram Sadar said, “On August 8, when my mother fell ill, I brought her to the hospital. But there was no doctor in the emergency department. The patient died due to delay in providing service.” Resident Medical Officer of the hospital Dr. Nazmul Islam said, “The hospital authorities have repeatedly sent letters to the concerned departments, but still the doctor’s posts are not being filled. Therefore, medical services are being provided with a small number of doctors. In the meantime, action is being taken if anyone neglects their duties.’ According to the authorities, 1,200 to 1,500 patients come to the hospital’s outpatient department every day for treatment. The number of admitted patients is 550 to 600. In addition to the 159 vacant posts of doctors, the hospital has 91 vacant posts of other employees.