Patients at Kalia Upazila Health Complex in Narail are enduring severe hardships due to a shortage of doctors, an unhygienic environment, a lack of essential medicines, and insufficient staff.

Established in 1978 as a 31-bed facility and upgraded to 50 beds in 2009, the health complex currently has seven doctors against 21 sanctioned posts.

All 10 specialist doctor positions, including those for ENT, medicine, dermatology, gynaecology, orthopaedics, and cardiology, remain vacant.

Until December last year, two specialists were available in gynaecology and orthopaedics, but these positions are now unfilled.

Among 37 nursing positions, 25 are occupied. The hospital also faces a severe shortage of third- and fourth-class employees. While 28 positions are sanctioned for third-class employees, 18 are filled.

The situation is even worse for fourth-class employees, with six staff members managing 36 designated positions, including office assistants, cleaners, stretcher bearers, and lab attendants. As a result, the hospital premises often remain unclean.

Doctors are struggling to cope with the increasing patient load.

A doctor, speaking anonymously, said the shortage forces them to work extended hours even after official duty, making it extremely exhausting.

The shortage has also affected surgeries, which are now conducted only twice a month, requiring specialists to be brought in from Narail Sadar.

Jorina Begum from Bilbouch village, sitting outside the doctor's chamber with her sick child, said she had been waiting for over half an hour with no sign of her turn approaching.

Mukti Khanam from Telidanga village, admitted for six days, said she has not received any medication from the hospital and had to purchase medicines worth Tk 5,500 from outside.

Komol Das, another patient, had to pay for blood tests outside the hospital after being admitted. Later, the doctor recommended an X-ray, which also had to be done elsewhere as the hospital lacks proper facilities.

On average, 30 to 35 patients are admitted daily, while around 400 to 450 patients visit the outpatient department.

The hospital has also been facing a severe medicine crisis since August due to a halt in new tenders. The situation has worsened over the past two months. Previously, the hospital provided 27 to 30 types of medicines, but now only six or seven varieties are available.

The hospital's only X-ray machine has been out of order for two years, and the technician position remains vacant.

Dr Partha Pratim Biswas, acting residential medical officer and upazila health and family planning officer, said the hospital has been struggling with various issues for a long time.

He said they have reported the situation to the higher authorities, who are working towards a solution.