Natore Modern Sadar Hospital. Photo : BSS

By Farazi Ahmmad Rafiq Babon

NATORE, Nov 1, 2025 (BSS) - The 250-bed Natore Modern Sadar Hospital has expanded its services, recording an increase of 27,000 patients in the first nine months of 2025 compared to the same period last year. 

Government revenue from the hospital also rose by Tk 21.70 lakh during this period. Extended operating hours, advanced diagnostic facilities, and newly inaugurated wards have contributed to enhanced healthcare delivery for the local population.

Hospital sources said that from January to September 2024, a total of 248,863 patients received treatment in the hospital's inpatient, outpatient, and emergency departments. During the same period in 2025, the number rose to 275,979 patients, an increase of 27,116 patients. 

Government revenue from the hospital during the first nine months of 2024 was Tk 84.84 lakh, which increased to Tk 1.06 crore in the corresponding period of 2025, showing a growth of Tk 21.70 lakh.

Alongside general medical care, the number of patients undergoing pathology, X-ray, ultrasonogram, and ECG tests is gradually increasing. With advanced equipment management and the extension of operating hours in the evening shift, public interest in hospital services has grown. 

Pathology testing hours, previously up to 11:30 am, are now extended to 7:00 pm, while the billing counter remains open until 8:00 pm. ECG services are available 24 hours. Two additional electrolyte and biochemistry analyzers and one more cell counter have been added.

Rapid hormone testing will commence as soon as reagent supplies are available, said Assistant Pathologist Al Amin. 

He said that on average, 130 pathology tests are conducted daily, 30 to 40 of them in the afternoon. 

Patient Zahera Khatun said she had RBC, CBC, and creatinine tests and received her e-report, which she fully trusts.

The number of pathology, X-ray, ultrasonogram, and ECG tests rose from 558,000 in December 2023 to 649,000 in July 2024, nearly doubling to 12,64,000 by July 2025.

Women's and children's wards have been moved to new, spacious buildings, improving service quality. A new isolation ward has been established for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. 

The new building has six cabins, including four new ones. A stomach wash room has been added. Separate emergency ticket counters for men and women and four additional beds in the emergency observation room have been introduced. 

A help desk operates round the clock, while colposcopy has been initiated for cervical cancer detection. Non-functional ambulances have been restored. EPI vaccination rooms with waiting areas for guardians have been set up. 

Express counters are operational for freedom fighters, July warriors, disabled, elderly, and critically ill patients. Operation theaters, pharmacies, and NCDC corners are fully automated.

System Support Engineer Md Khaled Mosharraf said hospital staffs have received automation training, which is ongoing. 

E-tickets, e-reports, e-prescriptions, and automated medicine supply systems have been implemented across the hospital. A total of 15,49,150 patients have been registered online.

However, out of the 61 approved first-class positions at the 250-bed hospital, 19 medical posts remain vacant. Across all categories-- first, second, and third class-- the hospital has a total of 265 sanctioned positions, of which 156 are currently filled, leaving 109 posts vacant.

Principal Saeed Bin Al Asad, General Secretary of the Senior Citizens' Association, praised the express counter for senior patients and urged the hospital to fill vacant posts to ensure full 250-bed services.

Resident Medical Officer Dr. Sohrab Ali Samrat said maintaining cleanliness amid large patient inflow is a major challenge. Efforts are underway to optimize hospital operations through locally upgraded software, which will speed up service and reduce patient waiting time.

Civil Surgeon and in-charge of Natore Modern Sadar Hospital Dr. Md. Muktadir Arefin told BSS that while service numbers have grown, service quality improvement continues as they are working with utmost sincerity. 

Efforts are ongoing to fill vacant posts and expand specialized services such as cardiology and nephrology, aiming to provide comprehensive healthcare for the people of Natore, he added.