Tangail Medical College Hospital, a 500-bed facility, treats over 500 inpatients and nearly 1,500–2,000 outpatients daily. Despite its modern and well-maintained infrastructure, the hospital faces severe shortages of doctors, nurses, and support staff, disrupting healthcare services and causing significant patient inconvenience.
The hospital requires 200 doctors but currently has only 55. Of these, 22 serve in outpatient departments, 5 in the emergency unit, and 27 in inpatient wards. The nursing staff requirement is 300, but only 165 are on duty. Other essential staff, including cleaners, security personnel, and third- and fourth-grade employees, are also far below the required numbers.
The hospital has 14 wards and six operation theaters, but several specialized units, including ICU, ENT, orthopedic, and cardiology services, remain partially or fully non-functional due to staff and equipment shortages. Ambulances and administrative vehicles are also unavailable. Departments providing Medicine, Surgery, Gynecology & Obstetrics, Pediatrics, Dermatology, ENT, Ophthalmology, Dental, Physiotherapy, Child Development, and Mental Health services are operational, though overcrowding is frequent, especially in Medicine and Gynecology wards. Some diagnostic facilities, such as MRI, remain temporarily closed due to mechanical faults.
Patients have also complained about poor food quality, irregular medicine supply, and harassment by middlemen inside the hospital. Hospital authorities, however, conduct mobile courts periodically to control malpractice.
In one recent incident, a female student admitted with breathing difficulty underwent an ECG test operated by a non-medical staff member. In another, a district official died after delayed treatment, with family alleging negligence due to the absence of doctors.
Hospital Director Dr. Mohammad Abdul Quddus said the facility continues to operate under severe staff shortages. He has requested the Ministry to create and allocate new posts, which would allow all wards and departments to function fully and ensure proper patient care.
