Double patient load, half the staff
Graphics: Agamir Somoy
Feni General Hospital has 250 beds. Yet more than 500 patients are regularly admitted to the hospital. As many as 567 patients were admitted on Sunday. While the hospital authorities are struggling to handle the patient pressure, 31 of the 74 posts for doctors and 78 of the 220 posts for nurses are vacant. Of the 106 posts for third- and fourth-class employees, 74 are vacant. Treatment services are also being disrupted as several important medical machines remain out of order. Many patients have to stay on the floor due to a shortage of beds.
According to hospital authorities, patients from the six upazilas of Feni as well as Mirsarai in Chattogram, Senbagh and Companiganj in Noakhali and Chauddagram in Cumilla come here for treatment. On average, 1,200 to 1,300 patients seek medical advice from doctors at the outpatient department every day. As a result, both the outpatient and inpatient departments face excessive pressure.
A total of 567 patients were admitted to the hospital on Sunday. Of them, 111 were in the 31 bed Medicine Ward alone. The Dengue, Pediatrics and other wards also have more patients than their designated bed capacity. Due to the additional patients, many have to receive treatment on the floor instead of beds.
According to hospital administration data, 31 of the 74 posts for doctors are vacant. One post each for senior consultants in Cardiology, Medicine, Pediatrics, Dermatology and Venereology, Dental, Ophthalmology, Gynecology, Radiology and Physical Medicine is also vacant. The shortage is most severe in the assistant surgeon posts. Sixteen of the 17 posts are vacant.
Along with doctors, there is also a severe shortage of nurses. Of the 220 posts, 78 are vacant. Of the 106 posts for third- and fourth-class employees, 74 are vacant. As a result, employees have to take on additional responsibilities while providing treatment and care to patients and running the hospital’s daily operations.
Hospital cleaner Rubel Hossain said several vacant posts have forced a small number of employees to take on additional responsibilities. This is creating additional pressure on them.
Nurse Mitali Rani said, “There is always pressure from patients at the hospital. It is difficult for a small number of nurses to provide the necessary care to more than 500 admitted patients.”
Along with the shortage of manpower, a lack of necessary equipment and malfunctioning machines are also creating problems in medical services. Three of the hospital’s four X ray machines are out of order. One of its three ultrasonography machines and two of its seven ECG machines cannot be used. As a result, patients are facing difficulties in undergoing necessary tests amid the pressure of patients.
There are also limitations in dialysis services. One of the hospital’s 10 dialysis machines is out of order. As the number of kidney patients is increasing, a demand has been submitted for 10 more machines. Hospital authorities said dialysis services can be expanded if the necessary machines are provided.
Dr. Kamruzzaman Ziku of the hospital’s Anesthesia Department said, “Despite several vacant posts for doctors, they are trying their best to continue providing services.”
Dr. Mobarak Hossain Dulal, acting superintendent of the hospital, said a requisition has been sent to the relevant department of the ministry for urgent recruitment against the vacant posts. He expressed hope that the crisis would ease to some extent once doctors and nurses are recruited.
He further said, “The number of kidney patients in Feni is increasing. The hospital has the necessary infrastructure for dialysis services. A demand has been submitted for 10 more dialysis machines to expand the service.”
More than twice the bed capacity of the 250-bed hospital is regularly occupied by admitted patients. Along with vacant posts for doctors and nurses and malfunctioning critical equipment, operating medical services at Feni General Hospital is becoming increasingly difficult.
