Aung Kaung Zaw — Residents from more than 30 villages in Manaung Township, Arakan State, are struggling to receive healthcare services as the Sarchat station hospital has no doctors, according to the residents.

The station hospital has lacked a doctor for about one year, with its previous physician moving to another posting in July 2019, the residents said.

“Nothing has happened although the residents complained about the lack of a doctor at the hospital to lawmakers and relevant local authorities. Residents face difficulty when they have health matters,” Sarchat village administrator U Thein Tun Aung told DMG.

“This hospital is crucial for the entire [area]. More than 30 villages have to rely on this hospital. Residents find it difficult to receive medical treatments. Hospital staff show no respect for their work as the hospital lacks a doctor. Residents don’t dare receive medical care from the nurses,” U Thein Tun Aung added.

The Sarchat station hospital is unable to effectively administer medical treatments as it has no doctor, agreed U Hmat Gyi, a local elder.

“The station hospital has four health workers. Female nurses visit the hospital on an alternating basis. But they cannot deal with medical treatments effectively. We have called on officials to appoint a doctor at the hospital,” he added.

Some patients have died after going without medical treatment as the village is far from the closest urban hospital, said residents of Sarchat village.

Cottage hospitals on Saku Island, Ramree Township, and at Ngamaukchaung on Pantin Island in Taungup Township are also reportedly without doctors, according to residents there, who said the Saku Island facility has gone without a physician since 2017.

About 5,000 people rely on the Sakukyun cottage hospital, while about 9,000 residents depend on the Ngamaukchaung hospital.