Patuakhali 250-bed General Hospital has long been struggling to provide adequate healthcare services to a growing number of patients due to a severe shortage of doctors.

At present, 51 of the hospital’s 77 sanctioned doctor posts remain vacant.

During a recent visit, this correspondent found 824 patients admitted to the hospital against its 250-bed capacity. Many were crammed onto floors, corridors and stairways due to the shortage of space.

The absence of specialist doctors in surgery, paediatrics, medicine, ENT, anaesthesia, ophthalmology, dermatology and venereology, cardiology and orthopaedics has further worsened the situation.

Of the 10 senior consultant posts, only the one for gynaecology is filled.

Besides, eight of the 12 junior consultant posts, 15 of the 16 assistant surgeon posts and all three anaesthetist posts remain vacant.

Established in 1979, the hospital was upgraded to 150 beds in 1996 and later to 250 beds. Administrative approval was given in October 2020 to upgrade it to 500 beds, but full-fledged 500-bed services have yet to begin.

Meanwhile, since Patuakhali Medical College was established in 2014, the hospital has been relying on support from its teachers and doctors to maintain services in several departments, said Dr SM Kabir Hasan, assistant director of the medical college, who is serving as superintendent of the 250-bed hospital.

Once the required manpower is available, the hospital will be able to operate as a 500-bed facility, he added.

Dr Mashiur Rahman, acting resident medical officer of the hospital, said, “The matter has been reported to the Directorate General of Health Services. Urgent appointment of doctors to the vacant posts would significantly ease the crisis and ensure better services for patients.”