Joypurhat hospital in dire straits, not enough beds for patients

Joypurhat General Hospital Struggles to Serve Far More Patients Than Its Workforce Can Handle

Thebangladaily.com – Joypurhat General Hospital has formally expanded to a 400-bed institution, but its day-to-day capacity remains constrained by a severe shortage of doctors, nurses and support personnel. The hospital was upgraded from 250 beds on July 2, yet it is still operating with manpower more suited to a much smaller, 100-bed facility.

The gap between the hospital’s official capacity and the number of people seeking care has created pressure across wards, outpatient services and diagnostic facilities. On many days, the hospital admits between 700 and 800 patients, nearly double its designated bed count. With limited space available, roughly 400 patients may need treatment on ward floors, in corridors or on verandas.

The strain does not end with admitted patients. The outpatient department regularly receives about 1,500 to 1,600 visitors each day. Doctors, nurses and hospital workers must manage this large flow of people while also caring for patients who have been admitted, handling medicines, arranging tests and supervising other essential services.

Staffing Falls Far Below the Needs of a 400-Bed Facility

A hospital of this size is expected to have 305 doctors, 235 nurses and 408 support staff members. Joypurhat General Hospital currently has just 31 doctors, 125 nurses and 45 support workers. The shortfall affects every level of care, from patient monitoring and medicine distribution to ward management and emergency treatment.

Food allocations are prepared for 400 patients, but limited staffing makes it difficult to properly oversee delivery and distribution. When the number of admitted people is far higher than the planned number of beds, even routine services become more challenging. Patients and their families may face long waits, crowded surroundings and added uncertainty while staff attempt to manage the workload.

The hospital serves not only residents of Joypurhat but also people travelling from nearby areas because of its transport connections. Patients from Hakimpur in Dinajpur, Dhamuirhat and Badalgachhi in Naogaon, and Shibganj in Bogura also seek treatment there. This wider service area helps explain why demand consistently exceeds the hospital’s available resources.

Specialist Shortages Affect Kidney, ENT and Critical Care Services

Important specialist posts remain vacant. The hospital has no Ear, Nose and Throat specialist and no nephrologist for kidney-related treatment. The absence of a nephrologist is especially significant because dialysis has been provided at the hospital since 2022.

About 10 kidney failure patients receive dialysis treatment there each day. Despite the continued service, no nephrologist has been available since dialysis began. Relatives of patients have stressed the need for an urgent appointment, as specialist supervision is vital for people undergoing long-term treatment for serious kidney conditions.

Critical care patients face another major obstacle. An intensive care unit was made ready for use four years ago, but it has not begun operating because the hospital does not have an anesthesiologist. As a result, patients who require ICU support must be sent to other facilities, including Ziaur Rahman Medical Hospital in Bogura.

For critically ill patients, transfer to another district can be dangerous. Travel can delay treatment at a moment when rapid intervention is essential, while families may also face the financial and practical burden of arranging transport. The problem is particularly difficult for poorer patients, who may have limited ability to manage emergency referrals outside their local area.

Equipment, Testing and Medicine Concerns Add to Patient Burden

The hospital also lacks some of the modern equipment needed for advanced diagnosis. CT scan and MRI services are not available, limiting the range of investigations patients can complete within the facility. Many pathology tests also cannot be performed there, forcing patients to go to outside diagnostic centres.

Having to seek tests elsewhere can make treatment more complicated, especially for people already travelling from distant upazilas or neighboring districts. It may require additional travel, time and expense before doctors receive the information needed to make decisions about treatment.

Patients have also described shortages of medicines. Manik, from Dadra Jantigram in Joypurhat Sadar Upazila, said he had to buy syrups and injections from outside the hospital. Conversations with several patients indicated that medicine availability remains a concern for those receiving care at the facility.

When prescribed medicines are unavailable at a public hospital, patients may need to purchase them privately. For families facing prolonged illness, emergency treatment or repeated hospital visits, that can increase the overall cost of care.

Hospital Authorities Seek Additional Personnel and Supplies

Dr. Sardar Rashed Mobarak, superintendent of the 400-bed General Hospital, said requisitions have been submitted for the doctors, nurses and support staff required to improve services. He said patients could receive the expected level of treatment once the necessary staffing and medicines are provided.

“Patients would receive the expected standard of care once the required personnel and medicines are made available,” Dr. Sardar Rashed Mobarak said.

The hospital’s expansion has raised expectations for healthcare access in Joypurhat and surrounding areas. However, the experience of patients shows that increasing the official number of beds alone cannot resolve pressure on a busy public facility. Staffing, specialist appointments, ICU operations, diagnostic equipment, medicine supplies and support services all need to grow alongside patient capacity.

Until those needs are met, Joypurhat General Hospital will continue to carry a patient load far beyond the resources currently available to serve it.