At least 300 patients come to the hospital from far away areas a day but doctors can attend hardly 30 per cent of them. The rest return home disappointed, sources at the hospital said.

The precarious condition is due to lack of required doctors and other staff in all departments, they said. The sanitation condition is also very unhygienic, a number of patients alleged while talking to this correspondent.

The number of beds is also too inadequate to the needs. About half of the patients admitted find their place on floors and corridors.

Almost as a rule, patients have to buy medicines from outside. Irregular supply of water and electricity adds to the sufferings of patients, they said.

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia opened the 'upgraded' 250-bed hospital on February 17 last year.

The organogram for the upgraded hospital was sent to the ministry 14 months ago but nothing has been done as regards appointment of doctors and other staff, sources said.

Twenty-one posts of doctors are vacant. Only 12 doctors are now posted at the hospital but many of them also work in private clinics without caring for patients at the hospital.

Sources at the Civil Surgeon's office said the hospital needs 432 people including doctors but there are only 140 staff including 12 doctors. This is too inadequate, they said.

A number of posts of specialist doctors are vacant for long. Those include posts of gynae and ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist; and pathology and radiology consultant. Besides, many posts of junior consultants are vacant.

Four posts of emergency medical officer (EMO) and four of indoor medical officer (IMO) are vacant since setting up of the 100-bed hospital on 12.44 acres land at Kalikapur in the town in 1979.

Gynecology and surgery patients are being deprived of proper treatment due to lack of consultants for long.

The lone gynae consultant, Dr. Mahmudur Rahman was transferred to Barguna four months ago. He was replaced by another doctor in December last year. But she is seldom seen at the hospital.

The sources claimed that she sits at a private clinic in Barisal city.

When asked about her absence, Civil Surgeon Dr. Nurun Nahar Begum said she was on three months' leave from December 13 last year. The CS could not provide any answer when asked why the gynae doctor did not join duty after expiry of leave.

Allegations have it that most of the patients coming to the hospital are advised to go to certain clinics in the town for "better treatment".

Shortages of mosquito nets, lack of modern investigation facilities are common complaints made by patients and their attendants.

In most cases, patients have to buy blood from blood banks outside, which are not safe, they said.

"We can supply only 20 to 25 per cent of the blood needed", an official at the hospital blood bank admitted.

When contacted the CS said, "We sent several letters to the ministry to approve the organogram and appoint staff but in vain. So, we can not provide proper service to patients due to shortage of manpower."