Lone doctor serving two lakh people in Dhanbari

Only one doctor has been serving for over two lakh people at 50-bed Dhanbari Upazila Health Complex in Tangail.  Local people said, the hospital is called 50-bed hospital but it is just stumbling in every steps in providing health care services for two lakh people. Fifty beds came two years back to the hospital long ago but packed in box yet.

Necessary equipments like X-ray Machine and ECG are not here in the health complex. Indoor treatment has not yet started for not having doctors and necessary medical equipments.  Providing outdoor suggestions are the only duty the health complex conducting for 2 lakh people.

On the other hand, people have to pay more money to brokers to get outdoor suggestions. The local people have been suffering a lot in the area, added local people.

Dhanbari Upazila Health Complex sources said, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone of the hospital on 18 November in 2012. Former Health Minister Dr Md Abdur Razzak MP with the then Health Department Director Prof Dr Din Mohammad Nurul Haq inaugurated the hospital on 25 October in 2015.

It is known that, over 200 to 250 patients come to Dhanbari Upazila Health Complex for health treatment. But most of them are bound to go to other hospitals as the indoor services have not started in the hospital.  An Upazila Hospital requires 21 doctors where this hospital has only one. 

Medication service seeker Abdul Jalil from Nijborni village, Shapla Begum of Natun Bazaar, Rozila Begum of Baniajan village, Saleha Begum and Abdur Sabur said, there is no medicine in the hospital. They have to buy prescribed medicine from outside.

Out-comers and brokers disturb them always and seek money for little help they said to this corresponded. Acting and residential doctor Dr Sazzad Hossain said, 'Equipment and manpower crisis causing sufferings to the health care seekers.

The hospital is in dire need of proper medical equipments and sufficient manpower to provide proper medication.' Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Md Ashraf Ali said the same thing as acting Dr Sazzad Hossain said.

Local Mp Dr Md Abdur Razzak was surprised about the hospital's condition when he was asked about the situation. He will speak to Health Minister to start the hospital with all its necessary equipments and manpower, he added.

-Md Nazrul Islam, Madhupur, Tangail