Sribordi Upazila Health Complex is limping for shortage of doctors and other staff, much to the sufferings of local patients, especially the poor ones.

Due to the situation, patients do not get proper treatment and medicines at the 31-bed hospital.

At present, on an average 300 to 350 people come to the outdoor department for treatment while 100 to 150 come to the emergency department every day. But there are not enough physicians to treat the patients, said Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Md Ibrahim Titon.

Officially, there are 15 doctors against 23 posts at the health complex meant for at least 3 lakh people in the upazila.

Of the 15, only eight doctors work here while five are on deputation, one is on maternity leave and another one has remained absent for long without permission, said Dr Titon.

Resident Medical Officer (RMO) Ziaul Haque has long been working at Central Medicine Stores Depot (CMSD) in Dhaka and four others at different government hospitals on deputation, he said.

Assistant Surgeon Bilquis Sultana is on maternity leave while Medical Officer Prottay Hasan has long been absent at workplace without permission, he added.

There is no specialist doctor except gynecologist Lipika Ghosh at the hospital. Due to this, patients with cardiac problems and brain hemorrhage are referred to Sherpur, Mymensingh or Dhaka for treatment.

In spite of having a gynae specialist, women who need cesarean section for delivering their babies cannot be operated upon at the hospital as there is no necessary equipment in the Operation Theatre and anaesthetist.

Besides, there are only five nurses against 10 posts, said Dr Titon.

Noor Mohammad, who was admitted to the health complex a few days ago with complaints of vomiting and abdominal ache, said he had to buy all prescribed medicines from outside pharmacy as the hospital did not provide him with any medicine.

Dr Md Anisur Rahman, in-charge of the hospital, admitted that there is acute shortage of doctors and serious crisis of medicine at the health complex.

Admitting shortage of manpower and crisis of medicine, Sherpur Civil Surgeon Md Anwar Hossain said they have already informed the health directorate about the matter but to no effect yet.