The Narsingdi Sadar Hospital has long been grappling with a severe manpower shortage and poor infrastructure.

Although it was upgraded to a 100-bed facility years ago, it still runs with the staff structure of a 30-bed hospital, leaving doctors overwhelmed by the rising number of patients seeking care every day.

Hospital sources said only one medical officer is posted at the emergency department, which receives around 600 patients daily. In the outpatient department, about 2,000 patients visit each day across medicine, cardiology, dermatology, gynaecology and paediatrics.

As a result, one doctor often ends up seeing 150 to 200 patients, limiting the time available for proper consultations.

Three of the 20 sanctioned posts for doctors and six of the 137 nurse posts remain vacant. Five posts of forward boys and cleaners are also vacant.

Patients complained that doctors cannot give adequate time during consultations, leading to dissatisfaction over the quality of care. The number of admitted patients is often double the hospital's 100-bed capacity, further straining services already hampered by staff shortages.

Laboratory and X-ray services remain severely constrained due to a lack of technologists. Several diagnostic tests are unavailable, forcing patients to go to private centres at higher costs.

The infrastructure is in disrepair, with plaster falling from ceilings, discoloured walls and rainwater leaking through the roof.

Although the hospital has two ambulances, there are no sanctioned posts for drivers, so the service is being operated through outsourced staff.

"We have to wait long hours in line with our children to get a chance to seek consultation in the outpatient department. It is frustrating," said Amena Begum, 45, from Alokbali union.

Ahmed Islam, 27, a patient's attendant, said ambulances are often unavailable during emergencies. "I had requested an ambulance to take my father to Dhaka from Narsingdi, but they only gave excuses. I was forced to hire a private ambulance later on."

Contacted, Dr Farida Golshan Ara Kabir, residential medical officer, said, "We have requested the higher authorities to take steps to resolve the crises soon."