Today is October 10. World Mental Health Day. Although there are facilities for the treatment of mental disorders in various hospitals of the country, patients’ relatives usually choose Pabna Mental Hospital. Because relatives do not have to stay with patients in this hospital. But staying in another hospital is mandatory. Moreover, the service is available free of charge or at an affordable price. The quality of service in this 500-bed hospital located in Hemayetpur of Pabna city is not bad. People have developed some kind of trust in hospitals. However, this 67-year-old hospital is now plagued with various problems.
Out of the total 19 wards of the hospital, 14 are male and five are female wards. Of the total beds, 350 are free and 150 are chargeable to patients (paying). There are total 53 buildings in the hospital compound. Each ward of the patients has a sound system to listen to music, there is an opportunity to watch TV. Hundreds of closed circuit cameras are installed around the hospital for surveillance. 48 solar lamps have been installed to provide lighting in the load shedding hall.
At present there are four people in the hospital consisting of a Director (Ongoing Duty), Medical Supervisor, Resident Psychiatrist, Resident Medical Officer. There are six out of seven medical officers. However, there is not a single person on the posts of Senior Consultant, Clinical Psychiatrist, Clinical Assistant, Dental Surgeon, Anaesthetist, Clinical Pathologist and Biochemist. There are 4 out of 9 assistant occupational therapists, 26 out of 70 ward boys. Staff nurses are less than needed. At present 19 posts are vacant in the post of doctor, 4 in the post of first class officer, two in the post of second class officer, 27 posts in the post of third class employee excluding assistant nurse and 109 post in the post of fourth class employee. There are 177 vacancies out of 643 posts.
Many patients come, who can be cured by regular counseling. But there is no proper counseling here. Usually an attempt is made to release the patient within a month. The cabin rent here is Tk 9,750 per month, while the food is of poor quality. The only cinema is closed for a long time.
There are many complaints about the quality of food. A few days ago, food supply was stopped due to tender complications. Later he overcame the crisis but the quality of food did not increase. From October 10, 2022, the allocation for four meals per day is only Tk 175 per person. Relatives of patients complain that patients are forced to eat poor quality food here. There is no provision for bringing food from outside. No canteen. As a result, patients cannot buy food with their own money even if they want to.
After passing through the main gate of the hospital, on the right side is the outpatient department for the patient admission process. 250 to 300 patients are seen here in a day. Necessary medicines are provided free of charge. Sincere service of nurses plays a special role in curing diseases. But there is the violence of the broker. The brokers take whatever money they can from them in the name of admitting patients from different parts of the country. It has been alleged that members of Ansar are also involved.
Along with medical care, modern medicines and food are provided here free of cost. So far about 80 thousand patients have received treatment from this hospital. About 85 percent of them returned home symptom-free. In most cases, patients are able to return home after one to two months of treatment. In many cases schizophrenia or bipolar disorder relapses and the patient relapses and is re-admitted.
Due to shortage of manpower the existing quality of service cannot be fully ensured. The hospital’s vocational department, radiology services are not functioning as well. Not much counseling or psychotherapy is offered here. No indoor facility for treatment of children. There is no occupational therapy or speech therapy for children with mental retardation and autism.
President of Pabna Chamber of Commerce Saiful Alam Swapan Chowdhury said that people have a lot of trust in Pabna Mental Hospital. The quality of service here is also good; But there are many problems here including shortage of manpower including doctors, dangerous buildings, insufficient funding. It has become more of an entertainment center than a hospital. The government should focus on solving these problems.
Hospital director Dr. Shafqat Wahid told Ittefaq, many posts are not filled here for a long time, we are trying to fill them. A specialist doctor is needed here. The food crisis is over. Legal action is taken immediately if there is evidence that someone from our hospital is involved with brokers regarding patient admissions.’
