RAJSHAHI, Nov 13: Death risk of moribund patients in six district hospitals in the division is increasing due to lack of ICUs (Incentive Care Units).
ICU facilities are available only in Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) and Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital (SZRMCH) in Bogura District.
In the absence of ICUs in hospitals in Sadar hospitals of the six districts - Chapainawabganj, Natore, Joypurhat, Naogaon, Sirajganj, and Pabna, emergency patients are brought to RMCH or SZRMCH taking death risk. But many patients die on the way.
According to sources, there are approvals for ICUs in most of the hospitals in the division. But these can't be operated because of manpower crisis. At present, exchange of letters about opening ICUs is going on.
Of the total 50 ICUs in the entire division, 40 ones are in RMCH and 10 ones in SZRMCH.
A relative of a patient Milon Islam said, ICU plays a significant role in curing moribund patients; many patients were cured in ICUs; and also many others died without undergoing ICU treatment.
On October 13 a youth Jayanta, 24, of Baraigram in Natore, became sick. He was taken to Baraigram Upazila Health Complex. But later on, he was referred to RMCH as his condition was deteriorating. But he died on the way. RMCH sources said, he died before reaching the hospital.
Supervisor of Joypurhat 250-bed General Hospital Dr Sardar Rashed Mobarak said, there is 10-bed ICU in the hospital; but to due to lack of manpower, the ICU was not inaugurated. Despite sending letters to the government for several times, it did not work.
ICUs of 250-bed Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib General Hospital and Shaheed M Mansur Ali Medical College Hospital (SMMAMCH) are not running due to the same reason.
Residential Medical Officer (RMO) of SMMAMCH Md Faridul Islam said, "Expansion work of a building is going on to install `10-bed ICU. The work will be completed in next December."
SMMAMCH Director Dr Md Jahangir Alam said, due to lack of manpower and machinery, the 10-bed ICU is not opened.
Acting RMO of 250-bed Natore Adhunik Sadar Hospital Dr Sourav Ali Samrat said, after construction of the hospital, the structure of ICU will be opened ICU rooms of 250-bed Naogaon General Hospital have been turned into store rooms.
RMO (Acting) Dr Abu Ansar Ali said, after fading of Covid-19, in 2021 two ICUs of specialised beds were approved by the Health Directorate; later on, two ICU beds were supplied by the directorate. But other tools were not supplied.
Civil Surgeon of Chapainawabganj District Dr SM Mahmudur Rashid said, ICU bed facilities are not available in district hospital and upazila health complexes. The infrastructure for the 250-bed hospital has been completed. But it can't be opened due to tools and manpower crisis.
Deputy Director of SZRMCH Abdul Wadud said, there are 10-ICU beds in the hospital, and two more beds are necessary. RMCH spokesperson Dr Shonkor K Biswas said, there are 40 ICU beds in the hospital; no bed remains empty.
"If there would be ICU beds in district Sadar hospitals and private hospitals, there would be no pressure on us," he added.
