Medical services at Lohagara Health Complex of Narail district have long been getting hampered for various problems, including the shortage of physicians and accommodation.
Sources at the health complex said it was upgraded to 50-bed hospital from 31-bed one in 2014 but the necessary paper works and approval from the Health Ministry have not been finalised yet.
Though the construction work of a three-storey building involving Tk 71.7 million had begun in 2001-2002 fiscal year, the authorities concerned handed over the building to the hospital authorities in 2014, after long 13 years.
However, the operation in the new building could not be started yet for lack of administrative approval, forcing the hospital authorities to conduct their activities in the old building.
Besides, the health complex is being run with only four physicians though the posts of six other physicians have long been lying vacant.
Some 200-300 patients visit the outdoor department of the health complex every day, sources said. In most cases, they receive treatment staying on the hospital floor due to the scarcity of bed while the doctors face trouble in tackling the huge number of patients.
During a recent visit to the health complex, a news correspondent found that there was no room even to swing a cat into the male ward and many of them were taking treatment either sitting or lying on the floor.
The patients who come to the hospital's outdoor department struggle a lot to get their serial numbers due to long queues.
Rezaul Haq, a patient of Lahuria village in the upazila, said, "I've been waiting for the last two hours but failed to draw their attention."
Hena Begum of Batika Bari village said, "I've come to the hospital around 10 am and I could not yet get my serial number even after passing one and half hours."
A physician at the hospital, wishing anonymity, told that only two physicians are struggling to tackle a huge number of patients at the outdoor department. "We cannot even leave out the chair for a minute and go on leave if we fall sick. It's very hard to provide better treatment under such pressure."
He, however, said when the hospital will be upgraded to 50-bed one, the posts of 12 more physicians will be created.
Lutfunnahar, an official at Lohagara Upazila Health Complex and Family Planning, said there are 10 posts of doctors in the hospital and when it will turn into a 50-bed one, the posts of doctors will rise to 21, reports UNB.
Narail Civil Surgeon Munshi Asaduzzaman said the health complex is being run with staff of a 31-bed one. "We've sent a letter to the health ministry for its up-gradation and we're trying hard to get the approval the soonest."