Healthcare services at Sherpur Sadar Hospital are being disrupted by staff shortages, faulty medical equipment and other operational problems, affecting patients from several districts, according to local reports.
The hospital, officially upgraded from a 100-bed facility to a 250-bed hospital in November 2018, is described as having a nominal capacity of 265 beds. However, the lack of adequate doctors and nurses, malfunctioning equipment and alleged harassment by brokers have raised concerns over the quality of treatment available to patients.
Around 1.6 million people live in Sherpur's five upazilas, while patients also arrive from neighbouring areas of Kurigram, Jamalpur and Mymensingh. These include Roumari and Rajibpur in Kurigram; Bakshiganj and Dewanganj in Jamalpur; and Phulpur and Haluaghat in Mymensingh. The combined population of the areas cited in the report exceeds two million.
The hospital was upgraded from 100 beds to 250 beds through a virtual inauguration by then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on November 2, 2018, with the aim of improving healthcare services for residents of the region.
However, seven years after the inauguration, vacant posts for doctors and nurses remain a concern, while equipment failures and alleged irregularities in hospital services have reportedly hindered access to proper treatment.
The situation has placed additional pressure on the hospital, which serves patients not only from Sherpur but also from neighbouring districts. Patients requiring specialised treatment may face further difficulties when essential staff or functioning medical equipment are unavailable.
The reported problems have raised questions about whether the hospital has the necessary manpower, equipment and management support to deliver the level of healthcare expected from an upgraded district-level facility.
