RAJSHAHI, Feb 17 (V7N) — A growing shortage of essential medicines in community clinics across Rajshahi has disrupted healthcare services for marginalized patients, forcing many to return home without treatment and buy medicines from private pharmacies at extra cost.

Community clinics, established at the union level to ensure primary healthcare for grassroots people, are now struggling to provide regular services due to irregular medicine supply. Previously, around 27 types of medicines were supplied free of cost for common illnesses such as fever, cold, cough, diarrhea and headache, but currently the supply of several key medicines, including antibiotics and fever-related drugs, has either stopped or become highly irregular.

Clinic sources said the last major supply of medicines arrived in August last year, when only three cartons were delivered, which lasted for about three months. Even after six months, no fresh supply has reached many clinics, creating a serious service gap for poor and vulnerable patients who rely heavily on these facilities.

During a visit to Madhusudanpur Community Clinic in Paba Upazila, a large number of patients were seen waiting in line for treatment, but many complained they were not receiving medicines as before. Local resident Tahmina Begum said earlier they could get most medicines directly from the clinic, but now they are forced to purchase nearly all medicines from outside pharmacies.

Community Clinic Health Care Provider (CHCP) Noor Alam said the clinic receives around 40 to 45 patients daily, but the number of patients has recently declined due to the medicine shortage. He added that the clinic is unable to meet patient demand because the available stock is very limited.

Similar complaints were reported from Berabari Community Clinic in Mohanpur Upazila, where CHCP Zakia said there has been no medicine supply for nearly two months and the stock of medicines has reached zero, making it impossible to provide medicines to patients.

In Baghmara Upazila, CHCP Selim Hossain said all 38 community clinics are facing the same crisis, with no supply of medicines since August, leaving poor and helpless patients in severe hardship.

Health workers said the clinics operate from 9 am to 3 pm six days a week, but due to the shortage, many service seekers are returning without receiving medicines and are being forced to bear additional treatment costs.

Officials confirmed that the shortage is widespread across Paba, Mohanpur, Baghmara and other areas of Rajshahi, affecting overall primary healthcare delivery at the grassroots level.

Rajshahi Civil Surgeon Dr. S.I.M. Rajiul Karim acknowledged the ongoing crisis, saying the supply of medicines in community clinics has remained disrupted for several months. He expressed hope that the situation would improve soon, adding that higher authorities have been informed and normal supply is expected to resume within the next two weeks.

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