Rehabilitation Infrastructure and Services in a District Hospital in Bangladesh

Introduction: The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) at General Hospital, Cumilla plays an essential role in promoting the health status and functional capacity of patients. Established in 2021 and formally inaugurated in 2022, the department has continued to provide comprehensive rehabilitation services despite limited resources. Objective: This study aims to describe the infrastructure, services, and patient demographic and disease profile of the PMR department at General Hospital, Cumilla. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective, cross-sectional study conducted in the PMR department of General Hospital, Cumilla, covering the period from July 2023 to June 2024. Results: The department is currently staffed by 2 rehabilitation physicians (physiatrists), 1 medical officer, 2 physical therapists, and 1 medical technologist, who together provide indoor, outdoor, and specialized PMR services across 2 indoor beds. A total of 24,789 patients (n=24,789) received services during the study period, of whom 37% were male and 63% were female. By age, 2% were under 18 years, 60.5% were 19–45 years, 28% were 46–60 years, and 9.5% were above 60 years. Non-specific low back pain was the leading diagnosis (22.68%), followed by knee osteoarthritis (16.22%), lumbar spondylosis (12.12%), adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder (6.18%), neck pain (5.40%), soft tissue disorders (5.14%), cervical spondylosis (4.74%), knee sprain (4.72%), axial spondyloarthritis (3.78%), lumbar intervertebral disc derangement/PLID (2.70%), plantar fasciitis (2.07%), and rheumatoid arthritis (1.52%), with Bell's palsy and the remaining musculoskeletal, rheumatologic, and neurological conditions—including menopausal disorders, hip pain, stroke/cerebrovascular disease, ankle sprain, unspecified musculoskeletal disorder, musculoskeletal chest pain, spondylolisthesis, avascular necrosis of the femoral head, and septic arthritis—together accounting for the remaining 12.73% of cases. Conclusion: The PMR department of General Hospital, Cumilla continues to improve the quality of life of patients with physical disabilities. Sustained investment in service growth and patient care reflects the department's ongoing commitment to rehabilitation medicine. Medicine Today 2026, Vol.38 (2): 298-303