In Chapainawabganj’s Shibganj Upazila, an acute healthcare crisis has emerged as the area’s sole ambulance has been immobilized for more than three months, leaving approximately 7 lakh residents without essential emergency transport. The halt in service is due to a severe funding shortage for fuel, exacerbating the plight of those in need of urgent medical care.
This service interruption means that critically ill patients are no longer transported to the district’s Sadar Hospital or the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) for advanced treatment. Previously, the ambulance played a crucial role in ferrying patients and their families based on medical necessity to these higher-level care facilities.
The absence of the ambulance service has severely impacted the community, especially the poor and low-income families who cannot afford private ambulance services.
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The financial strain is not limited to those without means; financially stable residents also bear the brunt, facing additional expenses to secure alternative emergency transport.
The Shibganj Upazila Health Complex, a 100-bed facility, typically sees over 400 visitors daily, seeking basic medical services — a testament to the community’s reliance on available healthcare resources.
Investigations reveal that the ambulance’s operational halt is linked to an outstanding debt of Tk 14 lakh at a local petrol station, leading to a suspension of fuel supply since November 4 last year.
Dr. Mahmudur Rashid, the district’s Civil Surgeon, confirmed the crisis, stating that they have reached out to higher authorities, requesting financial support to overcome this critical situation.
The ambulance service will resume soon upon arrival of the fund, he added.