Photo: BSS

Md. Hafizur Rahman

BARGUNA, August 11, 2026 (BSS) – Despite the daily struggles of a resource-constrained environment, the 250-bed Barguna General Hospital (BGH) stands as a vital sanctuary where thousands of coastal residents in need seek healing and hope.

Every year, the people of Barguna are hit by outbreaks of infectious diseases, sometimes it is dengue, sometimes measles and at other times diarrhoea. Last year, dengue claimed several lives in the district.

Yet the district’s main healthcare facility is now grappling with a severe shortage of doctors, nurses and infrastructure, leaving ordinary patients to bear the brunt of an overstretched system.

According to the district health authorities, 231 posts of doctors have been sanctioned across the district but only 78 doctors are currently working here.

The situation at the BGH is even more alarming. Against 81 sanctioned posts for doctors, only 17 are currently in service including administrative responsibilities.

For the last 20 days, the hospital has also been without a pediatric consultant. The previous consultant, Mehedi Parvez, has promoted and transferred to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal. As a result, healthcare for children has been severely disrupted.

Of the 17 doctors currently listed at the hospital, one is a dental surgeon and another is a homeopathic physician. One doctor joined the hospital but never returned to the workplace. Another is on maternity leave, while four doctors are present at the hospital only one day a week.

In reality, the hospital’s entire medical service is being shouldered by just six to seven doctors. Day after day, this small group of physicians is struggling to provide care to hundreds of people from the coastal district.

The shortage is not limited to doctors. The hospital also faces a serious shortage of nurses. Against 109 nursing posts, only 65 nurses are currently working.

At the 250-bed hospital, between 100 and 150 patients are admitted every day, while another 150 to 200 people come to the outpatient department seeking treatment. With such limited manpower, hospital authorities are struggling to provide the level of care patients expect.

Children are among those suffering the most. The hospital has 50 designated beds for children but around 40 children are admitted every day. With space running out, many young patients are forced to receive treatment on the hospital floor, in corridors and even beside stairways.

Mahibul, 26, a relative of a patient at the hospital, said the number of patients was far greater than the number of doctors available. “There are too many patients, but very few doctors. We often have to wait for hours without receiving proper treatment. When doctors are unavailable, the suffering of the patients increases even further,” he said.

For Sabina Yasmin, 43, the shortage has become a deeply personal ordeal. Her one-year-old son has been suffering from fever and cold for several days.

“I have taken my son to the hospital several times, but I did not get the service. How can we get proper treatment when there are no doctors? People in this coastal area live with health risks throughout the year,” she said.

Monir Hossain Kamal, President of the Barguna District Health Rights Forum, said the hospital is the main source of medical care for the people in the coastal region.

“This hospital is the main hope for healthcare for people in the coastal area. But despite the shortage of doctors and nurses continuing for a long time, we have not seen any effective initiative to address the problem,” he said.

“Unless the adequate manpower is appointed quickly, the healthcare system will deteriorate even further,” he added.

Taskia Siddiqua, a physician of the hospital, told BSS that the hospital is facing shortages of both doctors and nurses and that the matter had already been brought to the attention of the higher authorities. “We are trying our best to provide the highest level of service with limited manpower,” she said.

Talking to BSS, Barguna-1 constituency lawmaker Md. Oliullah said he held meetings with the deputy commissioner, civil surgeon and hospital superintendent over the situation of the hospital.

“I have sent a demi-official letter to the Director General of the Health Services requesting doctors for the hospital. He has assured me that more doctors will be posted against the vacant positions,” he said.

Barguna Civil Surgeon Abul Fattah said that the district health authorities had also urged the higher authorities about the need for doctors including a pediatric specialist and a superintendent.

As the patients continue to crowd the hospital’s wards, corridors and outpatient department, a handful of doctors and nurses are struggling to keep the system running-leaving the district’s 1.2 million residents waiting for a healthcare lifeline strong enough to meet their needs.