Zakir Hossain Khan, Patharghata (Barguna) 

Established in 1972, the 31-bed Patharghata Upazila Health Complex, located on the southern coastal belt of Barguna, was upgraded to a 50-bed facility in 2010 to meet the healthcare needs of nearly 300,000 people.

 However, despite increased capacity, the health complex has long suffered from a chronic shortage of doctors and essential staff — leaving patients without the care they desperately need.

As the dengue outbreak in Barguna escalates, the Ministry of Health has declared the district a dengue hotspot. Already, nearly 200 cases have been detected in Patharghata alone. In this worsening situation, the lack of medical staff has placed unbearable pressure on the few remaining doctors, severely undermining their ability to provide adequate treatment.

According to health complex sources, out of 31 sanctioned posts for doctors and officers, only 3 are currently active. The Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer has recently been transferred on deputation, and one junior consultant is on a year-long training program. Presently, only 2 medical officers and 1 dental surgeon are available to handle all services.

There are no specialists in 10 crucial junior consultant roles including surgery, medicine, gynecology, anesthesia, pediatrics, orthopedics, cardiology, dermatology, ophthalmology, and ENT.

No pathologists are available, despite 2 sanctioned posts and only one of 3 medical officer posts is filled.

Of 5 assistant surgeon posts (covering IMO, EMO, pathology, anesthesia, and radiology), only 1 doctor is working and the Unani Medical Officer post is vacant.A

All 6 union-based assistant surgeon posts remain unfilled and even the Kalmagha Sub-Health Center has no doctor posted, effectively halting its services.

Of 30 sanctioned senior staff nurse positions, only 22 are filled and midwives 2 out of 5 posts are filled. Among 138 positions across third- and fourth-class employees (including outsourced staff), only 82 are currently serving.

During a field visit on Monday, July 7, the health complex was found to be overwhelmed with patients — many of whom left in frustration without receiving treatment due to the lack of doctors. One overburdened physician in the emergency department was attending to patient after patient, while hospital aides and ward boys were administering injections and dressing wounds — tasks that typically require trained professionals.

Patients admitted to the hospital were similarly underserved due to the lack of doctors, nurses, and support staff. Many were deprived of proper treatment and care.

Patients like Tania, Cynthia, and Akkas, who came seeking treatment for eye and skin issues, left disheartened due to the absence of relevant specialists. Johora Khatun brought her child in but was informed there was no pediatrician available — forcing her to return home without treatment.

Dr. Rakhal Biswas, the acting Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer and current Residential Medical Officer (RMO), said, "Our outpatient department sees an average of over 150 patients daily. However, due to extreme staff shortages, we are unable to provide quality healthcare. Many children are coming in with dengue, skin infections, pneumonia, and diarrhea. With dengue spreading rapidly and our resources stretched thin, our ability to respond is increasingly compromised. We’re struggling to provide even basic medical care.”

Patharghata Upazila Health Complex is in a state of crisis, operating with only a fraction of the required medical personnel amid a growing dengue outbreak. Without immediate intervention and staffing support from the Ministry of Health, the risk to public health in this vulnerable coastal region will only deepen.