Shortage of Doctors and Equipment Cripples Healthcare Services at Jashore Keshabpur Health Complex
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Keshabpur Upazila Health Complex in Jashore is facing a critical operational crisis, characterized by severe staffing shortages, broken diagnostic equipment, and a lack of essential medical supplies that have left hundreds of patients struggling to access basic care.
The 50-bed facility, which serves residents from Jashore, Satkhira, and Khulna districts, is currently operating with only 24 doctors, leaving 19 positions vacant. The vacancies include five specialist roles in orthopedics, cardiology, ophthalmology, dermatology, and surgery, as well as 14 general practitioner positions. The shortage extends to support staff, with only 77 of 118 third-class employee positions filled, and just one of five sanitation worker posts occupied.
Diagnostic services have been significantly impaired for two years, as the hospital’s X-ray machine remains non-functional. Consequently, patients are forced to seek diagnostic tests at private facilities, where costs are significantly higher than the government-subsidized rates. Furthermore, the hospital has been without a dedicated ambulance driver for four years, rendering its lone ambulance effectively unavailable for emergency patient transport.
Patients report frequent shortages of essential medication, with many being issued prescriptions that the hospital cannot fulfill. On August 24, the facility recorded 643 outpatient visits and 82 inpatient admissions, frequently forcing patients to occupy beds in hallways due to overcrowding.
Keshabpur Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Rehenewaz acknowledged the administrative challenges, citing the lack of a driver as the primary reason for the failed ambulance service. He attributed the medication shortage to the conclusion of the fiscal year and stated that the Ministry of Health has been notified regarding the broken X-ray equipment.
Jashore Civil Surgeon Masud Rana stated that the resolution of the ambulance crisis depends on the recruitment of a driver, while the procurement of a new X-ray machine is currently in progress. He added that the medicine shortage is expected to subside once the new tender process is completed.
Local community leaders, including Abu Bakkar Siddique, president of the Keshabpur Nagorik Samaj, have criticized the ongoing failures, demanding immediate government intervention to improve the quality of health services at the facility.
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