Bishwambarpur hospital limps amid staff shortage

A severe manpower shortage at Bishwambarpur Upazila Health Complex in Sunamganj has been depriving thousands of people of adequate medical services for a long time, causing widespread public suffering and frustration.
Patients from remote areas, including women, children, and elderly individuals, visit the hospital daily, but many return without receiving proper treatment. The existing staff are struggling to cope with the pressure of handling a large number of patients with limited resources.
According to hospital sources, the facility currently has 31 beds and was officially upgraded to a 50-bed hospital on 6 January 2023. However, the increased capacity has not been matched with adequate staffing.
Out of 112 approved positions, only 58 are currently filled, leaving 49 key posts vacant. The shortages include critical roles such as junior consultants, resident medical officers, medical officers, assistant registrars/surgeons, anaesthetists, dental surgeons, nursing supervisor, medical technologists, and senior staff nurses.
Several administrative and support staff positions also remain unfilled.
Due to the shortage, essential services such as surgeries, deliveries, and diagnostic facilities are either limited or unavailable.
Jamila Begum, a pregnant woman, said she had to travel to the district town for delivery due to the absence of a female doctor and operation facilities. “It cost me extra money and risked my life,” she said. Another patient, Salma Banu, expressed frustration over the lack of female doctors, saying poor patients like her cannot afford to travel to the city for treatment.
Faruk Mia, who suffered a leg fracture, said he had to get X-ray services from private diagnostic centres outside the hospital due to a lack of facilities.
Local representative Kamal Hossain urged the authorities to take immediate steps to fill the vacant posts and ensure proper healthcare services at the only government hospital in the upazila.
Bishwambarpur Upazila Family Planning Officer Dr Suman Chandra Barman acknowledged the crisis, stating that despite their best efforts, patients are being deprived of desired services due to staff shortages. He added that the issue has been reported to higher authorities.