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🇧🇩 Bangladesh /Health & Science

Barguna hospital crippled by severe doctor shortage, forcing patients to travel for care

From Daily Star · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Barguna General Hospital, serving nearly 1.2 million people, operates with only 15 doctors against 81 sanctioned posts, forcing patients to seek care in Barishal and Dhaka.
  • Critical specialist positions in medicine, surgery, and pediatrics are severely understaffed, hindering necessary surgeries and complex treatments.
  • Patients face long waits and are often referred elsewhere, increasing medical costs and hardship, while hospital officials acknowledge the shortage and seek solutions.

Barguna General Hospital, the primary healthcare facility for almost 1.2 million people in Bangladesh's coastal Barguna district, is critically understaffed. With only 15 doctors filling 81 sanctioned positions, patients are frequently forced to travel to distant cities like Barishal and Dhaka for treatment that should be available locally.

It is not possible to give adequate time to each patient

— Tajkia SiddiquahA resident surgeon at the hospital describing the impact of the doctor shortage on patient care.

The shortage is particularly acute in specialist areas. Of the 55 medical officer posts, 47 are vacant, leaving only eight. Similarly, only two doctors are available for 17 sanctioned consultant and specialist physician positions, alongside five junior consultants. This severe lack of personnel has significantly limited specialist services in crucial fields such as medicine, surgery, gynecology, pediatrics, orthopedics, ophthalmology, ENT, and anesthesiology.

Travelling to Barishal for treatment after already visiting a government hospital placed an unfair burden on poor patients

— Md Saidul IslamA local resident expressing the financial and logistical difficulties faced by patients needing to travel for care.

Consequently, the hospital cannot perform many essential surgeries. Patients with complex conditions are routinely transferred to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal or government hospitals in Dhaka. This referral system adds substantial medical costs and hardship for patients and their families, who are already struggling with health issues.

the absence of adequate gynaecological specialists meant emergency obstetric cases were often sent elsewhere, sometimes putting lives at risk

— Reshma AkterA relative of a pregnant patient highlighting the risks associated with the lack of gynecological specialists.

Daily, the hospital's outpatient department sees over 600 patients, while more than 350 are admitted as inpatients. Each doctor handles an overwhelming 150 to 200 outpatients daily, leaving insufficient time for individual care. Patients and their relatives report waiting for hours without receiving adequate services, often being referred elsewhere even for minor complications. Hospital officials acknowledge the dire situation and have communicated the need for staffing increases to higher authorities, noting that the hospital's capacity was upgraded in 2010 without a corresponding rise in medical personnel.

the shortage at a district-level hospital "highly concerning" and demanded immediate postings against vacant posts, along with special incentives for doctors serving in remote coastal districts

— Harun Ar Rashid HowladerThe vice-president of the Barguna District Health Rights Forum calling for urgent action to address the staffing crisis.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Daily Star in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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