Dhaka is suffering from a crisis of ICU beds amidst the surging number of patients in the second wave of Covid-19 in Bangladesh.
Data compiled by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) shows that 89% of the 117 ICU beds at the public hospitals in Dhaka were occupied as of Monday morning.
They include all 10 ICU beds at Kurmitola General Hospital and 16 beds at Sheikh Russel Gastroliver Hospital.
Currently, 10 public hospitals in Dhaka are providing Covid-19 treatment for patients. However, two of them do not have ICU units.
The ICUs of the other eight hospitals are facing high pressure, as many patients come from outside the capital, which is in addition to patients already in the city.
Only one bed out of 16 was available at Kuwait Bangladesh Friendship Hospital and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), three out of six beds at Sarkari Karmachari Hospital in Fulbaria, four out of 24 bed at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (Unit 2) and Burn Unit, one out of 14 beds at Mugda Medical College Hospital, and three out of 15 beds were free at Rajarbagh Police Hospital as of Monday, according to the health bulletin of the DGHS.
There are no dedicated ICU beds for Covid-19 patients at the Infectious Diseases Hospital and Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital (SSMCH) in Dhaka.
Public hospitals vs private hospitals
People infected with coronavirus are largely looking for ICU beds at public hospitals because they are more affordable.
Although many patients are visiting private hospitals for ICU beds if they can afford it, those who depended on public hospitals for treatment are suffering from the shortage of ICU beds.
The government is spending around Tk4.5 lakh for the treatment of each Covid-19 patient admitted to ICUs of public hospitals, but private hospitals may require Tk30,000 to Tk1 lakh, depending on the condition of the patient seeking admittance.
United Hospital charges Tk50,000 in advance and Tk9,000 per day for a bed in the ICU. Officials said the overall cost varies from Tk50,000 to Tk80,000, depending on the condition of the patient. Still, half of the 22 ICU beds were occupied at the hospital by coronavirus patients.
Evercare Hospital charges Tk50,000 in advance and Tk17,500 for an ICU bed per day. The total cost ranges between Tk50,000 and Tk1 lakh depending on the condition of the patient. Even so, 15 beds out of a total of 20 were occupied at the hospital as of Monday.
No beds were available at Ibn Sina Hospital and Bangladesh Specialized Hospital.
What will the DGHS do?
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in April, a month after the detection of the first Covid-19 cases in Bangladesh, said the government would set up ICUs in all districts of the country.
On June 2, during a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council, the premier directed the authorities to establish ICUs in every district hospital and ensure they were appropriately equipped. She also directed that proper flow of oxygen for patients suffering from breathing-related ailments be ensured.
On October 8, the prime minister said the government was taking all-out preparations to keep district hospitals ready with ICUs and necessary oxygen to effectively deal with the possible second wave of coronavirus, which might arrive in winter.
Prof Nazrul Islam, a noted virologist and a member of the National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19, thinks the health authorities ignored the instructions of the premier on setting up ICUs in the districts, and this is why people are mostly coming to Dhaka for treatment.
“Less than 5% of people can afford to take ICU services from private hospitals. The rest depend on public hospitals and there is no alternative for the government to expand ICU beds at existing dedicated hospitals and deploy necessary manpower to minimise pressure on Dhaka,” he said.
When contacted, Dr Farid Hossain Miah, director (hospitals and clinics) of the DGHS, told Dhaka Tribune the process of setting up ICUs at all dedicated hospitals was ongoing.
He said 50 ICU beds that were prepared for Bashundhara Covid-19 hospital were now idle.
“We have already asked the authorities to distribute the ICU beds to Khulna Medical College and Hospital, M Abdur Rahim Medical Medical College Hospital in Dinajpur, Jessore 250-bed General Hospital and Kurmitola General Hospital in Dhaka,” he said.
When asked about preparations for Dhaka, he said Dhaka Medical College Hospital would get 10 ICU beds while 10 beds each would be distributed to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital (SSMCH), Kuwait Bangladesh Friendship Hospital and Mugda General Hospital for better management of critical Covid-19 patients.
