30 doctors on a trip to Cox’s Bazar, while patients suffer in Jashore

There is a crisis at Jashore 250-bed General Hospital. The supervisor, resident medical officers, and 30 doctors, left for Cox's Bazar on Sunday.

There is no specialist doctor at the hospital for the last three days, leaving thousands of patients to suffer.

Reportedly the doctors have travelled to Cox's Bazar with their wives, supposedly to attend a scientific conference,e and the tour has been sponsored by a pharmaceutical company.

The doctors present at the hospital have expressed dissatisfaction over the issue.

According to hospital sources, an organisation named "Physicians Surgeons Welfare Association" was formed a month ago, appointing the hospital's Supervisor, Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman, as chief advisor, and ophthalmologist Dr Himadri Shekhar as president. Such an organisation in the country only exists at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital (BSMMU).

Earlier on Sunday, Supervisor Dr Md Aktaruzzaman assigned ENT Senior Consultant, Md Rashed Ali Moral, as acting supervisor of the hospital during his absence. Then, Dr Md Aktaruzzaman, along with professors, associate professors, assistant professors, senior consultants and junior consultants – a total of 30 doctors – left the hospital to attend a scientific conference as members of the newly formed organisation.

Around 550 patients receive treatment every day in different wards and 2,000 patients receive treatment at the outpatient department of the hospital. Currently, there are only a few medical officers and intern doctors present at the hospital to treat hundreds of patients.

When a correspondent visited the hospital on Monday, he found the chambers of specialist doctors empty. There were intern doctors providing treatment to patients. Hundreds of outpatients and admitted patients left the hospital as they didn't receive any treatment in the last three days. The hospital authority has marked those admitted patients as "fled" in the discharge register. Patients and their relatives have expressed anger regarding the hospital authority's irresponsibility and negligence.

Sadek Ali from the Bejpara area of ​​the city visited the Jashore 250-bed General Hospital on Tuesday for treatment of his eyes as he was in extreme pain. Since there was no specialist, he had to return home without any treatment. 

Rafiqul Biswas, of Dholgram village in Bagharpara upazila, brought his wife Asma to the hospital for gynaecological issues. He said, "I came to the hospital from a far distance. It cost me Tk300 just for transportation and I had to return home with my wife without getting her treated. We have to visit the hospital again after two days."

There are thousands of other patients who had to return home without receiving treatment in the last three days.

Supervisor Dr Md Aktaruzzaman said, "We have come to Cox's Bazar to attend the scientific conference of Physician Surgeons Welfare. We will be back on Wednesday. The health director of Khulna is aware of our visit." 

Acting Supervisor Dr Md Rashed Ali Moral refused to comment on the matter.

Khulna Divisional Health Director Dr Md Monjurul Murshid said he was not aware of the situation clearly. Although the supervisor informed him about the Cox's Bazar visit, he was unaware of many doctors leaving the hospital at the same time.