Due to manpower crisis, it has not been possible to fully launch the Panchagarh Sadar Modern 250-bed hospital for two long years. As a result, the suffering of patients coming for treatment from various areas including remote areas of the district is increasing. Due to the lack of sufficient beds, many patients are seen receiving treatment on the hospital floor. A large portion of complex patients are being referred to Rangpur Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment.

Although the pressure of patients in the hospital is gradually increasing, medical services are being disrupted due to the lack of the required number of doctors, officials and employees and other manpower. As a result, despite the 250-bed infrastructure, the common people of the district are not getting its full benefits. Locals complain that the people of Panchagarh have long demanded that this modern hospital be fully launched.

Although public representatives and concerned authorities have assured to fully launch the hospital at various times, it has not been implemented yet. At the same time, locals have expressed disappointment that the promise of establishing a medical college in Panchagarh has not yet been implemented. According to hospital sources, there is currently one doctor working as a senior consultant (surgery) and one as a senior consultant (pediatric).

However, there are no doctors in the senior consultant (gynecology), medicine, orthopedics and ophthalmology departments. Apart from this, although one doctor is working each in the junior consultant (anesthesia) and cardiology departments, the posts of junior consultant are vacant in several important departments including gynecology and obstetrics, radiology, ENT, medicine, dental, pediatrics, surgery and orthopedics.

There is also no one in the post of physician medicine and rehabilitation. The resident medical officer is temporarily suspended. A radiologist, a pathologist and a dental surgeon are working in the hospital. Out of the five approved posts of Medical Officer, three are working and two are vacant. Out of the eight approved posts of Emergency Medical Officer, only three are working and five are vacant. The biggest crisis has arisen in the post of Assistant Surgeon. Against the approved 28 posts, only four are working. As a result, all 24 posts are vacant.

Out of the 130 approved senior staff nurse posts in the nursing department, 128 are working and two are vacant. Although two nursing supervisors are working, the service supervisor post is vacant. Six midwives are working. In addition, several posts including administrative officer, statistical officer, medical technologist (physio), medical technologist (EPI), health educator are vacant. Two medical technologists (laboratory), two medical technologists (radiography) and one medical technologist (dental) are working. There are three pharmacists.

One of the two approved posts of computer operator is vacant. There is also no manpower for the posts of chief assistant cum accountant and cashier. However, one accountant, one storekeeper, one office assistant cum computer operator, one cardiographer and one pump generator operator are working. One medical technician (ECG), one medical technician (anesthesia), one medical technician (dialysis) and one compounder are working in the hospital.

Only one is working against the three approved posts of medical technician (X-ray). Apart from this, one ward master, one record keeper, one lab attendant, one instrument caretaker, one sterilizer cum mechanic, one OT boy and two stretcher bearers are working. The post of head cook is vacant. Out of the 13 approved posts of office assistant, seven are working, six posts are vacant. Two out of the four approved posts for cooks and firemen are working, two are vacant. Two out of the four posts for cleaners are working and two are vacant.

One dom, two drivers and one herbal assistant (gardener) are working. Panchagarh Civil Surgeon Dr. Md. Mizanur Rahman said, “We are very sincere about the full opening of the Panchagarh Sadar Modern 250-bed Hospital. For this, a list of vacant posts in the hospital has been sent to the Directorate General of Health Services and the Ministry of Health. If the government quickly provides manpower for all the necessary posts including doctors, nurses, ward boys, it will be possible to fully open the 250-bed hospital.

I seek the cooperation of all concerned for this. “The expectation of the people of Panchagarh is that the modern 250-bed hospital will be fully opened by quickly appointing the necessary manpower. This will create an opportunity for the people of the district to not have to run to other districts for treatment and to get advanced medical services in their own district.