A surge in measles cases and rising child deaths has once again exposed deep-rooted weaknesses in Bangladesh's healthcare system, with ICU shortages making the crisis even more critical.
Families of affected children allege that many lives could have been saved if intensive care had been available in time.
At Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH), the deaths of 33 children over the past two weeks due to limited ICU support highlight the severity of the situation.
* 33 children die in 2 weeks at RMCH due to ICU shortages
* Over 2,300 measles patients admitted nationwide in past 15 days
* Vaccination campaign to begin Sunday
On Wednesday, a child became the fourth measles-related fatality at the hospital in the past 24 hours, while 22 children were admitted with symptoms and 14 recovered and returned home. A 40-bed isolation ward has been opened, with additional isolation corners in the pediatric ward.
Health Ministry Secretary Kamruzzaman Chowdhury said the hospital has only 12 ICU beds for children, which are not government-approved. "For each bed, 30 to 50 children wait. Currently, 39 children are on the waiting list, including 16 with measles," he said.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the country has 1,372 ICU beds in government hospitals, with 55 per cent concentrated in Dhaka. Twenty-two districts have no ICU facilities, while many units remain non-functional due to lack of trained staff and equipment.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, 240 ICU beds and 1,154 trained healthcare workers were deployed under a temporary project, but most units closed after it ended in December 2024.
DGHS's Additional Director General (Admin), Prof Dr Md Zahid Raihan, said ICU management becomes a major challenge during outbreaks, as staff shortages prevent units from operating effectively.
Measles infections are rising rapidly: in the past 15 days, 2,314 patients with symptoms were admitted nationwide, including 513 in the last 24 hours. So far, 427 cases have been laboratory-confirmed, with 13 deaths officially recorded, though the actual toll may be higher. Nearly 70 percent of infected children had not received any vaccine, 17 percent had received one dose, and only 11 percent had completed two doses.
Hospitals are facing severe bed shortages, with children often treated on floors. At one children's hospital, 124 cases were admitted this year, with nine deaths. Patients range from under six months to over five years old. At the Infectious Diseases Hospital, 674 patients have received treatment, 88 are currently admitted, and 32 are being treated on the floor. The hospital has only 10 beds for measles and six ICU beds, with 7-10 children waiting.
Public health experts, including Benazir Ahmed, stress the need for an urgent mass vaccination campaign, isolation of infected children, and stronger field-level surveillance to prevent further deaths.
On Wednesday, Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain announced that a nationwide measles vaccination campaign will begin Sunday for children aged 6 months to 10 years. Vaccines and syringes will be distributed by Thursday and Friday, and all leave for healthcare workers has been canceled to ensure smooth implementation. The minister also said sufficient ventilators and hospital beds are being prepared to handle the outbreak.
The surge in measles cases underscores longstanding gaps in pediatric healthcare, including ICU shortages, workforce deficits, and delayed vaccination, leaving children vulnerable to preventable deaths. Experts warn that without swift action, the situation could worsen further, highlighting the urgent need for systemic reforms alongside emergency response measures.
