Jamalpur hospital grapples with 3-fold patient load

Jamalpur 250-bed General Hospital is struggling to cope with more than three times its sanctioned capacity, forcing authorities to accommodate patients on floors, corridors and verandas amid shortages of manpower, infrastructure and functioning equipment.
According to hospital authorities, 804 patients are currently admitted to the hospital, while 1,562 patients received treatment at the outpatient department on the same day.
The situation is particularly severe in several wards. The 50-bed medicine ward is accommodating 273 patients, while 177 patients are being treated in the 24-bed paediatric and paediatric SCANU ward. The 48-bed surgery ward has 141 patients.
A total of 46 patients suffering from measles and dengue are also undergoing treatment at the hospital. As there is no separate ward for dengue patients, they are being treated alongside other patients, raising concerns about infection control.
A visit to the hospital found most wards overcrowded, with no beds available for many patients. Those unable to secure beds were seen staying in corridors and on floors. Rainwater entering some of these areas has added to their suffering.
Abdullah, a patient from Madarganj, said he had been staying in a corridor because no bed was available.
“My bed was also soaked by rainwater,” he said.
Dengue patients Rabbi and Abdul Halim said they had to stay alongside general patients as the hospital has no separate dengue ward.

Staff shortage
The hospital is also facing a shortage of doctors and other manpower. Of 82 sanctioned doctor posts, only 52 are currently filled, according to hospital authorities.
The shortage of skilled manpower has also left the hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU) non-functional despite its installation at a cost of several crores of taka, according to hospital officials.
Hospital authorities said the combination of excessive patient pressure, manpower shortages, inadequate infrastructure and malfunctioning equipment is hampering healthcare services.

Infrastructure concerns
Records show that the hospital was upgraded from 100 to 250 beds in 2003. However, questions have been raised over whether its infrastructure and service capacity have expanded in line with the growing number of patients.
A hospital building was declared abandoned in 2001, but outpatient department activities are still being conducted there. During a visit to the hospital on September 5, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat expressed dissatisfaction over the unhygienic environment and alleged irregularities.
He said an investigation would be conducted to determine whether funds and equipment allocated for patients were being used properly.
“I will investigate whether the money is being properly used for the patients,” he said.

Questions over official's tenure
Questions have also been raised over Assistant Director Dr Muhammad Mahfuzur Rahman’s long tenure at the hospital. Several local residents alleged that he has been working at the same hospital for more than six years. They also alleged that he has influence or vested interests in contractor-related activities, including the supply of food and medicines to the hospital.
Dr Mahfuzur Rahman said the hospital is currently providing services alongside the activities of a medical college despite having only 250 sanctioned beds. “We have 700 to 800 patients admitted to the hospital. We cannot provide adequate beds to patients because of accommodation problems,” he said.
Regarding his transfer, he said, “Transfer is a government matter. They can better explain why I have not been transferred. However, I have already submitted the necessary papers seeking a transfer.”
No separate response was available from him regarding the allegations of influencing contractor activities or having political links.
Civil Surgeon Dr Azizul Haque said he was not aware of any government circular requiring officials to be transferred after serving at the same workplace for more than three years.
He said the authority to transfer or post health officials rests with the Health Ministry.
With patient numbers far exceeding capacity, the hospital continues to face shortages of manpower and infrastructure, while questions over fund allocation and contractor management await verification through relevant documents and the investigation announced by the minister.