Established to provide emergency treatment for road accident victims along the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway, the Feni Trauma Centre remains largely non-functional, even 20 years after its completion.

The three-storey facility, built at Mohipal near the highway, was inaugurated on July 39, 2006 at a cost of Tk 2.76 crore.

Outpatient services began in October that year, with administrative approval following in February 2007.

However, the centre operates on a minimal scale, offering only outpatient services due to acute shortages in manpower, medical equipment and essential utilities.

District health officials report that the 20-bed facility requires a minimum of 20 staff, including doctors, to operate effectively.

At present, only 10 personnel are on duty, including a residential medical officer, a pharmacist, seven nurses, and a medical technologist.

Key positions, such as junior consultants for orthopaedics and anaesthesia, as well as radiology technologists and support staff, remain vacant.

During a visit to the facility, it was observed that many of its state-of-the-art resources remain unused.

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The ICU, modern operating theatre, and advanced pathological equipment lie idle. X-ray machines, ECG devices, and autoclaves are either unused or non-functional due to a lack of maintenance.

“Critical patients, particularly road accident victims, are often referred to Feni General Hospital or Chattogram Medical College Hospital. This delays urgent treatment and increases the risk of fatalities,” said Saiful Alam, the trauma centre’s residential medical officer.

The urgency of a fully operational trauma centre is underscored by the alarming number of accidents along the highway.

Harunur Rashid, officer-in-charge of Mohipal Highway Police Station, reported 21 accidents in Feni section in the past year, causing in 20 deaths and over 100 injuries.

He said that operationalising the trauma centre could significantly reduce casualties.

Civil Surgeon Dr Shihab Uddin said he had raised the manpower and infrastructural issues with higher authorities.

In a letter dated January 9, he urged the Health Services Division Secretary to address the concerns and approve additional staff to enable the centre’s full functionality.

Local residents have also expressed frustration over the prolonged inefficiency of the facility.

“Thousands of vehicles use this highway daily, and accidents are frequent. Yet, the trauma centre fails to provide timely treatment due to the lack of doctors and facilities,” said Nurul Afsar, a resident of Mohipal.

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Another resident, Nazrul Islam, lamented the lost potential of the centre, saying, “Despite its capability to save lives, the Feni Trauma Centre’s inability to function as intended highlights the critical need for administrative intervention.”

The continued inoperability of the trauma centre reflects a broader challenge in resource allocation, staffing, and infrastructure maintenance within the health sector. For the Feni Trauma Centre to achieve its intended purpose, immediate action is needed to address these long-standing issues.