At least 35 patients died in Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital, the biggest and only specialized health service providers in the region, during the official Eid holidays from July 27 to 30.
The hospital authorities say that the number of deaths was certainly less than that of in regular period.
After visiting the Barisal SBMCH, this correspondent gathered information from the patients and the admission registers of the hospital that right patients died, 15 were referred to other hospitals and six were released on July 27, nine died, 12 referred to other hospitals and 19 released on July 28, five died, 30 referred to other hospitals and 19 released on July while 13 died on July in the hospital.
Of the patients who breathed their last during the four days holidays, eight died from road accidents, four neonatal from delivery complications, one from chopping in violence, and 22 from different diseases, Abul Kalam, Ward Master of the hospital informed.
Forty-two patients were admitted on 27 July, while 38, 52 and 58 on the subsequent three days respectively at the indoor units in this hospital and many of them were released after primary treatment, said Dr. Asim Saha and Dr. Ajoy Dutta, emergency medical officers of the hospital.
Only 30 out of 180 intern doctors, the main working forces of the hospital, 34 out of 164 registers, assistant registers, emergency, indoor and outdoor medical officers, and 137 out of 404 staff nurses were assigned to perform duties during Eid vacation at Barisal SBMCH .
“We cannot refuse leave to the doctors and others during the socio-religious festival vacation. Normally per day average 1300-1500 patients receive treatment at indoor and daily average 13-15 patients die during normal period, said Dr. Kamrul Islam Selim, Director of SBMCH.
As the assigned manpower worked sincerely, 35 patients only died in the four-day vacation. The doctors, nurses, staff and employees who went on leave are expected to resume duty on Sunday, the SBMCH officials claimed.
SBMCH authorities always release a huge number of patients before long holidays to handle fewer patients, although they are not fully cured, alleged Anowar Zahid, health right activist.
Afzal Hossain, one of the admitted patients alleged that no specialist was available to attend the patient first to last during vacation period.
“No unusual death due to Medical negligence was reported this year during Eid vacation. Critical patients were referred to district and divisional level hospitals, said Dr. ATM Mizanur Rahman, district civil surgeon.
