Khulna: Patients receiving treatment at the Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit of Khulna Specialized Hospital have expressed satisfaction with the quality of services, while urging the authorities to appoint additional specialist doctors to ensure uninterrupted treatment. Patients and their relatives praised the sincerity and behaviour of the doctors and nurses at the unit.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Mohammad Delwar Hossain, who has been receiving treatment at the unit for the past four months, said his condition had improved significantly. However, he mentioned that the specialist doctor is not always available, which sometimes creates difficulties for patients. A female patient also expressed satisfaction with the treatment but noted that appointing another specialist would further improve the quality of services.
Talking to BSS, Malati Das, nursing in-charge of the unit, said patients from different districts, including distant areas, regularly come to the hospital for treatment. Khulna Specialized Hospital Director Dr Sheikh Abu Shaheen told BSS that the Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit has approval for 35 beds, but only 20 are currently operational due to inadequate space. "There is no shortage of nursing staff, but there is a shortage of specialist doctors," he said. He emphasized that increasing the number of specialist doctors and medical officers is necessary for better management and uninterrupted services at the unit.
Health professionals highlighted that burn and plastic surgery require rapid decision-making, regular monitoring, and timely surgical intervention. Depending on a single specialist for a major unit over a prolonged period can therefore hamper services, particularly when the doctor is away on leave, training, or other official duties. Patients and their relatives hope the authorities will appoint additional specialist doctors and medical officers and take necessary steps to make all 35 approved beds operational.
Established in the Goalkhali area of Khulna city in 2010 with three departments, the hospital now has 11 departments. The Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit treats not only burn injuries but also post-burn complications, physical deformities, diabetic infections of the hands and feet, and other complex conditions requiring surgical intervention.