Dental services at Comilla Medical College Hospital are being severely constrained by shortages of essential equipment and support staff, leaving many patients without timely treatment despite the availability of doctors.

The hospital’s dental department has only two dental chairs, although five are required. The shortage has made it difficult to treat the growing number of patients seeking care at the government facility. Many patients who fail to secure a surgery slot are forced to return home or seek treatment at private clinics at additional cost.

A visit to the department found a steady flow of patients, but doctors were unable to provide services to all of them because of inadequate infrastructure and equipment.

Among those affected was Md Abu Jafar, who travelled from Muradnagar with his son to have a tooth extracted. By the time they reached the department, the day’s surgery quota had already been filled. Despite repeatedly requesting the doctors to treat his son, he could not secure a slot.

“I came from far away to have my son’s tooth extracted. We were a little late, and the doctors told us that the scheduled number of patients had already been completed,” he said.

Kamnunnahar, who came from Mudaffarganj for treatment, faced a similar problem. After examining her teeth, doctors advised her to undergo root canal treatment at an outside facility because the department lacks the necessary equipment.

According to department sources, shortages of surgical instruments mean that dental surgeries can be performed on a maximum of 20 patients a day. Generally, only the first 20 patients on the waiting list receive surgery, leaving others to seek treatment elsewhere.

The department also provides complex dental surgeries twice a week. Official departmental data show that 522 patients underwent surgery during the past six months.

One of the department’s most serious deficiencies is the absence of an OPG (Orthopantomogram) machine, which is used to obtain panoramic X-rays of the teeth and jaws. As a result, at least 20 patients a day reportedly have to obtain X-rays from outside diagnostic centres, increasing both their expenses and the time required for treatment.

The department also faces shortages of local anaesthetic medicines used during tooth extraction. According to officials, many patients have to purchase the medicines from outside pharmacies. Essential materials required for dental fillings and root canal treatment are also in short supply.

The shortage is not limited to medical equipment. The department also lacks support staff. Although two employees are supposed to be assigned to the department, there is currently none. Department officials said they have arranged for two workers using their own resources to assist patients.

Doctors said the lack of equipment and manpower has made it increasingly difficult to provide proper treatment. In many cases, they have no option but to refer patients to private or other outside facilities.

The department also has a designated ward, but no patients are currently admitted there. Dental department head Dr Rokeya Zaman said two beds had been allocated to the ENT department for dental patients, but claimed the beds were rented and that the dental ward could not be made operational because the required posts for maxillofacial surgery had not been created.

However, ENT department head Professor Dr Shajibur Rashid disputed the claim. He said there was no provision for renting or leasing beds between government hospital departments and maintained that no ENT beds had been rented to the dental department.

Asked whether the department had submitted a requisition for the necessary equipment, Dr Rokeya Zaman said a demand was submitted in July 2025. No fresh requisition has been submitted since then, she said, because the hospital director’s office had not subsequently asked the department to submit another one.

Acting hospital director Professor Dr Md Shahjahan also confirmed that the dental department had submitted a requisition for equipment in July 2025. He said steps would be taken to ensure the department receives the necessary equipment, dental chairs and manpower, as well as to make the ward operational.

The situation has raised concerns among patients and medical professionals. For a major public hospital such as Comilla Medical College Hospital, the continued shortage of basic dental equipment despite having doctors is particularly troubling.

Ensuring adequate equipment, medicines, dental chairs and support staff could significantly expand the department’s capacity, reduce referrals to private facilities and save patients from unnecessary expenses and repeated journeys for essential dental care.