500 beds, 1,500 patients

The 500-bed Khulna Medical College Hospital is currently treating over 1,500 patients on a daily basis.

The hospital treated its highest number on patients (1,656) till date on Sunday, informed Dr Rabiul Hasan, director of KMCH.

A total of 1,556 patients, including 42 with dengue, were treated at the hospital yesterday. The number was 1,603 on Monday.

Upon visiting the hospital yesterday afternoon, this correspondent saw hundreds of patients, who are yet to find beds, staying on the hospital floors, corridors, balconies, and anywhere they could find, leaving no space for mobility.

The situation was worse in the children's ward, as patients had to stay on balconies by covering the windows and other openings with plastic bags to prevent rainwater from entering.

The situation has been exerting pressure on the doctors, nurses, and other employees as well. Patients have to wait for days for doctors to diagnose them, while the wait is even longer for those waiting for surgeries.

According to hospital authorities, the hospital is crowded with child patients during summers and monsoons, especially during heatwaves. Currently, 1,250-1,400 patients are treated here on average per day.

Originally established as Khulna Hospital in 1989 with 250 beds in the city's Boyra area, authorities upgraded it to KMCH in 1992. In 2008, the health ministry increased the number of beds to 500.

Currently, patients are treated here in 31 wards in 16 departments.

"I was admitted here on Friday but did not find any bed. I found a small space on the floor after waiting for hours. I got very little attention from the doctors, as they are very busy. I even had to buy medicine at higher prices from outside stores," said Moin Islam of Bagerhat's Fakirhat upazila, who was referred to the hospital after being diagnosed with dengue.

 Moin is currently staying on a mat on the hospital premises.

"My husband was brought in on Tuesday night after he had a stroke. He needed immediate treatment, but we did not find any vacant bed to admit him. He is currently lying on the floor of the medicine unit-1,' said Morjina Begum of Bagerhat's Morelganj.

Sujan Halder, who was admitted to medicine unit-2 on Monday, also shared a similar experience.

According to resident medical officer Dr Suman Roy, 92 out of 300 doctor and nursing positions, as well as 144 posts in other of 226 positions, are vacant.

"The hospital has to serve patients at three times its capacity. It's inhumane to see patients suffering on the floor, but we are helpless too. We are short staffed and that's adding to the menace," he added.

RMO Suhash Ranjan Halder echoed the same.

"Patients from different districts come to this hospital, but we do not have enough doctors to attend to them. We don't have the space or resources either," said KMCH director Dr Rabiul Hasan.

He also said he has contacted the higher authorities in this regard. "Hopefully, they will come u with a solution soon," he said.