Bagatipara Upazila Health Complex in Natore has buildings for 50 beds but runs on the staff and management of a 31-bed hospital. Shortages of staff and equipment and poor management are disrupting care for about 150,000 people in the upazila, and patients also come from neighbouring Lalpur and Arani.

Hospital sources say X-rays have been suspended for about six weeks because there is no film, and the X-ray room is locked. Just two pathology workers collect, test and report 40 to 45 patients' samples a day, and chemicals for diabetes and blood tests are short.

A new generator under the stairs of the new building was run once on trial but has not worked since because no fuel is allocated, leaving admitted patients sweltering in power cuts. Toilet waste water pools beside the building. With no ambulance driver, the driver of the upazila health officer's car also drives the ambulance.

Monowara Begum of Maria village said even a simple diabetes test cannot be done at the hospital and she had to go to a private clinic. Tosaddek Sarkar of Galimpur paid Tk 400 for an X-ray outside, only to find the doctor gone when he returned, and must bring the patient back the next day.

The Daily Observer said the upazila health and family planning officer did not answer repeated calls. Natore civil surgeon Dr Muhammad Moshiur Rahman said X-ray film and other test supplies are bought by tender at the start of the financial year, which causes some early problems; the tender process has begun and he expects the problem to be solved soon.

Source: The Daily Observer