Despite 28 approved posts over three years, the CCU of Jashore’s 250-bed General Hospital remains understaffed, relying on borrowed medical professionals to operate. Photo: Messenger
The Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of Jashore's 250-bed General Hospital is grappling with a severe shortage of manpower and essential equipment, leaving patients in distress. Despite 28 approved posts over three years, the unit remains understaffed, relying on borrowed medical professionals to operate.
The shortage of manpower coupled with equipment failures has created a dire situation, leaving patients at the mercy of a crumbling system. Doctors and nurses, burdened with the responsibility of multiple roles, can barely keep up with the overwhelming demand for cardiac care. Patients, in desperate need of timely interventions, find themselves stranded in a system that lacks the resources to provide adequate treatment.
Within the CCU, vital cardiac examination equipment lies broken, leading to tragic consequences as patients are deprived of critical treatments. Administrative records reveal a persistent plea for 78 crucial positions, including doctors, nurses, and support staff, to fortify the unit's operations.
The severity of the situation becomes painfully clear when one delves into the administrative intricacies of the hospital. Despite repeated pleas to the health department, the promised influx of manpower never materialized. In 2021, out of the requested 78 posts, only 28 were approved, further exacerbating the staffing crisis. As a result, only a fraction of the required medical personnel are available to tend to the needs of ailing patients.
Presently, a mere two doctors struggle to fulfill the responsibilities meant for twelve, while additional duties burden Cardiology Consultants and Assistant Professor Doctors from the Medical College.
The absence of functional equipment like echocardiogram machines, ECG monitors, and dopplers exacerbates the situation, forcing patients to seek costly services elsewhere. Complaints from patients and their families highlight the erratic availability of specialist doctors, with interns often left to manage critical cases.
Dr. Harunur Rashid, the hospital supervisor, echoes the frustrations of many. Repeated pleas to the relevant ministries fall on deaf ears, while the hospital's infrastructure crumbles, and lives hang in the balance. The completion of the CCU building in 2005 was meant to herald a new era of cardiac care, yet, nearly two decades later, it remains a hollow promise.
In the face of adversity, hope flickers. Dr. Rashid remains optimistic, placing his faith in higher authorities to intervene, to salvage what remains of the CCU's mission—to save lives.
The saga continues, with promises of imminent action from authorities echoing through the halls of the Jashore 250-bed General Hospital. Patients endure the consequences of this ongoing ordeal, hoping for a swift resolution to alleviate their suffering and secure the adequate care they deserve.
The plight of the CCU in Jashore's General Hospital unveils a stark reality of healthcare challenges faced by both patients and medical professionals. Urgent interventions are imperative to bridge the gap in manpower and equipment, ensuring the seamless delivery of cardiac care and saving countless lives from unnecessary peril.
Unless urgent measures are taken to address the staffing shortages and equipment deficiencies, the CCU's descent into irrelevance will be inevitable, leaving behind a legacy of missed opportunities and preventable tragedies. It's time for action, for accountability, and for a renewed commitment to the sanctity of life.
Messenger/Fameema
