The Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College Hospital in Dhaka is yet to be ready for serving the coronavirus infected patients, though the government announced that the hospital would start treating such patients from Monday.
The hospital authorities said they are yet to complete the arrangement of trained doctors and nurses, coronavirus testing kits, setting up of a testing lab, and other necessary equipment, including the personal protective equipment (PPE).
It would require six to seven more days to serve the Covid-19 patients, they said.
On May 7, the government and the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for turning the hospital into a designated facility for Covid-19 treatment.
On Sunday, Health Minister Zahid Maleque inaugurated the health services for coronavirus patients at the hospital which is located at Eskaton Garden Road in the capital.
The minister said coronavirus treatment will be given there till October 2020.
Although most of the patients have been discharged from the hospital after the MOU, the hospital sources said around 15 patients are now undergoing treatment and they will be released by Friday.
On Monday, Dr Mohammad Morshed, director of Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College Hospital, told Dhaka Tribune: "Initially, we applied to treat 400 coronavirus patients. But as the 700-bed hospital has the capacity to serve more patients, the health minister wanted support from us to dedicate at least 500 beds for Covid-19 treatment.
"For this, a coronavirus prevention team will be formed with 100 doctors from the hospital, 100 more doctors from the medical college, and 20 trained government doctors will join with us. Besides, nurses will also be included in the team," he added.
He said a coronavirus testing lab will be set up in the hospital while the trained doctors and necessary equipment have not yet arrived.
"It will not be possible to start its full operation before next Saturday or Sunday."
Cleaning activities were going on in different wards of the hospital on Monday to provide services to the coronavirus patients. Moreover, doctors of medical colleges and hospitals are also holding meetings from time to time.
Meanwhile, the authorities have cancelled leave of doctors, nurses, and staff.
Dr Rumana Nazneen, deputy director of the hospital, said: "Coronavirus is new to us but we can serve our patients in association with the trained government doctors. And for this, we have prepared rosters for our medical college doctors, nurses, and staff."
She said though the hospital has an oxygen supply system, it will be maintained more properly.
"Besides, there are six ICUs in the hospital and the authorities are likely to increase those."
According to the hospital authorities, there are 75 separate cabins, seven ventilators, seven dialysis machines, and other necessary equipment.
