Desk Report,
Services are running smoothly in the shiny building of Tarakanda Health Complex
A shiny new four-story health complex. In front of a flower garden, paved roads. Although it is a wonderful health complex, people are not getting the desired services here. Although partial services have been started in the health complex, the necessary manpower structure has not been approved. Meanwhile, medical activities are going on. This is a picture of the Tarakanda Upazila Health Complex in Mymensingh.
Services are running smoothly in the shiny building of Tarakanda Health Complex
A day on the ground
The Tarakanda Upazila Health Complex was inaugurated on February 19, 2022. Although the emergency and outpatient departments have been started, the inpatient services have not yet been started. When I visited the health complex on July 21, a person named Kajiul Islam, who came to receive services, said that the medical system here needs to be further improved. If there is a complex problem, I have to go to Mymensingh, so that those arrangements can be made here. Another patient, Mukul Khan, said, “Even though I arrived at 9 am, I was in pain for 1 hour. Later, when the doctor came, I saw that he had given me medicine.” Abu Bakkar Siddique of Banihala village was leaving after seeing the doctor at 10:11 am. He said, “We get services for minor ailments in the hospital. There is no service for major ailments. There are no doctors. Patients cannot be admitted. There are no seats. If we do not get full services, it is the same as not having a hospital.” At 10:25 am, local school teacher Rashedul Haque came to see a relative to see a doctor. He told Prothom Alo, “The indoor service has not been started here yet. Although patients get some basic services, they have to go to Mymensingh Medical for admission for minor issues. If the indoor service is started, the local people will benefit.”
At 10:29 am, Sufia Khatun of Chargopinathpur village was seen sitting on the steps of the balcony of the main building of the health complex. When asked why she was sitting, she said, “I have diabetes. The doctor said I will come at 1:30 pm, I am waiting for the doctor, I came at 9:30 am. What should I do? I would not have gone home and brought it back.’
Dust on indoor items
The beds and other items allocated for the inter-department are being damaged by a layer of dust. Even after almost three years, the inter-department is not being started due to the lack of approval for the manpower structure. On the third and fourth floors, various wards and cabins of patients can be seen. Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Abhijit Loh showed us the situation there. In the rooms, patient beds, pillows and other items for the inter-department are seen. Many packaged items. Everything is covered in a layer of dust. Although there is an operation theater, the equipment is being damaged. However, these are cleaned occasionally. According to some patients who come for services, local residents have to go to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital or the nearby Phulpur Upazila Health Complex with minor problems including diarrhea and pneumonia.
Tarakanda Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Abhijit Loh said, the interdepartmental system has not been implemented. To increase the quality of service, the posts of doctors and staff need to be created quickly according to the standard set. This will provide better service to patients. A proposal to create 32 posts has been sent.
Hospital Manpower
The health complex authorities said that although 10 applications were made for the post of junior consultant, the Directorate General of Health Services approved only four posts. Out of the four, gynecology, surgery, and anesthesia doctors are working, while the medicine doctor is attached to Mymensingh Medical College. Although 19 medical officers are required for the 50-bed hospital, only 2 posts were approved.
