The poor patients are not getting artificial limbs at the cheapest rate from Pongu Hospital, the country's lone specialised public orthopaedic hospital, as its artificial limb centre is almost closed down due to severe manpower crisis.
Though the centre produced 734 artificial limbs in 12 months [June 2003 to June 2004] for the patients, it produced only 245 in last year [January to December, 2010], shows the hospital record.
As the eight limb makers of the centre have gone to retirement in last five years and these posts have been laying vacant at the centre since then, said Matilal Biswas, only limb maker and manager of the artificial limb centre at National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedic Rehabilitation (NITOR), mostly known as Pongu Hospital.
Despite having "enough fund and machines," the limb centre remains virtually inoperative due to the shortage of limb makers, said Motilal who is also going to retirement soon.
Total post of limb makers of the hospital is nine.
According to Matilal, Tk 65,000 is needed for the Above Knee Prosthesis (artificial organ set above the knee) at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) and Tk 25,000 at Brac Artificial Limb Centre, which is only Tk 550 at NITOR.
"Only Tk 330 is needed for the Below Knee Prosthesis at NITOR which cost at least Tk 8,000 if you want to procure it from outside the hospital," he said admitting that the poor patients are suffering most as they have to procure artificial limbs from outside paying even 24 times more now.
While visiting the hospital, this correspondent found one Darbesh Ali, 40, who admitted to the hospital in the mid of June following a road accident and his leg had to be amputated.
Darbesh, a fish trader, was about to cry while narrating his state as he is managing treatment costs from his relatives.
Purchasing an artificial limb is beyond his capacity if he is not provided it free of cost or nominal cost.
"Can you manage an artificial limb from here for me, apa [sister]? If I would go back to work, I could save my family, my four little children would at least get their education," said Darbesh lying at G-1 bed at IJ ward of the hospital to the reporter.
According to the hospital sources, a total of 246 items like surgical/club foot shoe, Taylor brace, long leg brace, short leg brace etc was prepared last year, which was quite insignificant comparing to the existing demand. The production is almost nil this year, sources said.
Admitting the situation, Director of NITOR Abdul Awal Rizvi said that they could not go for recruitment, as they did not get qualified limb makers.
"Even we could not take non qualified ones to make them qualified after providing them training. Because the government recruitment policy does not allow it. So, we have applied to the health ministry to bring slight changes in the recruitment policy," said Dr Rizvi.
They are also trying to take people through outsourcing and already have contacted to the Protibandhi Unnayan Foundation in this regard, he added.
The hospital has been producing and supplying artificial limbs to the patients at the cheapest rate since its inception in 1972.
Source : The Daily Star
