Medicine crisis hits 284 community clinics in Jashore

Healthcare services in rural Jashore have come under severe strain as 284 community clinics across the district’s eight upazilas have remained without medicine supplies for the past six months, leaving thousands of residents without access to basic treatment.
The prolonged shortage has rendered many clinics largely ineffective, with Community Healthcare Providers (CHPs) able to offer little more than consultations and referrals. Patients, frustrated by the lack of medicines, are increasingly losing confidence in the facilities and seeking treatment elsewhere.
Residents say the crisis has deprived hundreds of thousands of rural people of essential healthcare services. Until medicine supplies stopped six months ago, villagers could obtain free medicines from nearby community clinics. Now, many are being forced to travel to upazila health complexes and district hospitals, increasing both costs and hardship.
Sources said the clinics, established to provide primary healthcare services in rural areas, previously distributed 22 categories of medicines for common conditions, including fever, coughs, colds, gastric problems, allergies, diabetes, hypertension, skin diseases and nutritional deficiencies.
However, medicine supplies have remained suspended since September 2025. Although clinics traditionally received stocks every three months based on demand, repeated requisitions from local health authorities have yet to result in new deliveries.
Rahim Sardar, a businessman from Ramkrishnapur village in Chougachha upazila, said he had relied on the local clinic for his regular medication.
“For the last six months, I have not received any medicine from the clinic. Recently, I went there for allergy medicine but was advised to visit the upazila health complex instead,” he said.
Amena Khatun, an eleventh-grade student from Kathamara village in Jashore Sadar upazila, said the medicine shortage had severely affected low-income families.
“Whenever we fell ill, we could visit the community clinic and receive treatment and medicines. Now the clinic has no medicines, and many villagers are suffering as a result,” she said.
Rozina Begum, a resident of the same village, said poor households depended heavily on free medicines provided by community clinics.
“The clinic was our only source of medicine. Without it, treatment has become difficult for families like ours,” she said.
Community healthcare providers, speaking on condition of anonymity, said patients continue to visit clinics daily expecting medicines.
“We are unable to provide the services people need and are constantly explaining the situation to patients. Medicine supplies should be restored immediately,” one provider said.
Jashore Civil Surgeon Dr Masud Rana acknowledged the shortage and attributed it to funding constraints.
“It is true that community clinics have remained without medicines for more than six months. The primary reason is a lack of funds for medicine procurement. The procurement process is underway, and we hope supplies will reach clinics soon,” he said.
Health experts warn that prolonged shortages could further weaken primary healthcare services and disproportionately affect low-income rural communities that depend on free government healthcare.