A severe shortage of doctors, particularly specialists, is disrupting healthcare services at the 250-bed Chapainawabganj District Hospital, leaving patients struggling to access treatment and forcing critical cases to be referred to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.
The hospital currently has only 38 doctors against 85 approved posts, with 47 positions vacant, according to official data. The shortage has affected major departments including medicine, surgery and paediatrics, while patients and their relatives are being forced to wait for hours in search of specialist care.
Mahtab Uddin, a resident of Shahbazpur Union, recently moved from one floor to another with his granddaughter while looking for a paediatrician. After waiting for a long time without finding the doctor, he was left frustrated. “I am looking for a children’s doctor, but I do not know where to find one,” Mahtab said.
Like him, many patients visiting the hospital every day face difficulties due to the shortage of doctors and other healthcare workers.
The crisis has worsened in recent months as seven doctors were transferred from the hospital within the past month, while only one new doctor joined, hospital sources said. The impact has been particularly visible in the surgery and medicine departments.
Among the vacant positions, only two doctors are working against 10 approved posts for senior consultants, while seven are serving against 14 posts for junior consultants. The hospital has two emergency medical officers against eight sanctioned posts and 10 assistant surgeons against 28 positions.
Two of the four posts for pathologists and radiologists are vacant, while four of the nine assistant registrar positions remain unfilled. During a visit to the hospital, Char Anupnagar resident Azizur Rahman said he admitted his mother Fatema for treatment on Monday afternoon.
The following morning, doctors advised him to take her to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. “What is the point of admitting a patient here if treatment is not available?” he questioned.
Meanwhile, Mahtab said he had brought his granddaughter for treatment but could not find a paediatrician. He said he had waited on the second floor hoping to meet a children’s doctor but could not find one. Many other patients and relatives were also seen moving between wards in search of specialist doctors.
Although the hospital has 250 beds, around 500 patients are admitted daily, according to Residential Medical Officer Mahbub Hasan. The outpatient department also receives nearly 2,000 patients every day.
A doctor at a second-floor room beside the lift said he had examined more than 200 patients by around 1pm, while another 30 to 40 people were still waiting outside. He said doctors usually see around 200 patients between 8am and 2pm every day.
The hospital is also facing shortages of other staff, while patients have raised complaints over cleanliness and sanitation. Asia Khatun of Islampur Union said she had been staying at the hospital for three days with her husband Tarikul Islam and had fallen ill because of the poor environment.
“The smell from toilets and other areas has made it difficult to stay here. I have not seen anyone come to clean the toilets in the past three days,” she said. Mahbub Hasan said the hospital was struggling to provide services with limited manpower.
“Manpower shortage is our biggest challenge. Several doctors have been transferred following promotions. There are currently no specialist doctors, particularly in surgery and medicine, which has affected services. The matter has been communicated to higher authorities,” he said.
He added that the hospital had three cleaners under the government revenue structure and eight others working on a master roll basis, while at least 30 workers were needed to maintain proper cleanliness.
Hospital Superintendent Dr Jamir Mohammad Hasibus Sattar said specialist shortages remained a major concern, especially in surgery, medicine and paediatrics.
“The number of doctors is lower compared with the patient load, creating difficulties in providing services. The relevant authorities are aware of the shortage and we hope the crisis will be resolved soon,” he said.
He added that authorities had been informed about vacant posts and the situation was expected to improve once new doctors join. Chapainawabganj Sadar MP Nurul Islam Bulbul acknowledged the shortage, saying the problem emerged after several doctors, including specialists, were transferred.
“We will communicate with the ministry and work to resolve the shortage of doctors,” he said. Former Chapainawabganj Sadar MP, BNP Chairperson’s adviser and District Council administrator Harunur Rashid said several doctors were transferred following promotions and efforts were underway to resolve the issue soon.
