With Covid-19 cases continuing to surge, Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH), with its critical care treatment facilities, is struggling with capacity issues every single day.
According to RMCH sources, a total of 86 Covid patients are currently undergoing treatment at the hospital.
However, the hospital has only 10 ICU beds and 18 ventilators for Covid patients. And the number of patients who need ICU beds is almost double that of the existing ICU capacity. Every day around 8-10 patients are having to wait for an ICU bed to be made vacant.
Moreover, there is also a crisis in the supply of medical oxygen, which is crucial for patients in the critical stage. High flow oxygen support can help many patients get proper treatment without having to be taken to the ICU.
Ward 25, previously the ophthalmology ward, located on the second floor has been readied to deal with the increasing number of Covid patients. However, it is very difficult to get patients with severe symptoms up to two floors as there is no elevator.
A person, whose relative had just died at ward 25 for want of an ICU bed amid the crisis at the hospital, said the family had to carry the body down two floors as there were no elevators.
Meanwhile, Razina Begum from Chapainawabganj said: “My doctor referred my husband to the RMCH for his shortness of breath. But, without a bed, let alone oxygen support, my husband now lies on the floor of the veranda as his condition deteriorates.”
Although the number of Covid and non-Covid patients at the hospital has been on the rise, awareness among patients and effective steps from its authorities regarding the prevention of contamination has remained negligible.
On a visit to the hospital's outpatient and emergency departments on Thursday, this correspondent saw many without masks. Moreover, there was no physical distancing in the queue outside the doctor's room, starting from the outpatient ticket counter.
There was a high influx of patients at several wards, including the pediatric, neuro medicine, and gynecological ones, and as a result, some patients were accommodated in the corridors.
RMCH Director Brig Gen Shamim Yazdani said: “Currently, there are at least 86 Covid patients admitted to the hospital. We are preparing to handle more Covid cases. By now, we have turned ward 25 into a dedicated Covid ward and we have almost prepared ward 22 for the same purpose. We will soon ready wards 16 and 3 as well to deal with the rising number of Covid patients.
“We are aware of the fact that it’s currently a major inconvenience to get patients up to ward 25 on the second floor without an elevator. But, with other wards at the ready, we can use ward 25 to treat only those with mild symptoms.”
“We have informed the health ministry about the ICU crisis and we hope to receive an allocation of eight ICU beds shortly. We are also working to resolve the existing supply shortage of medical oxygen.”
Additionally, non-Covid patients were struggling to get treatment in the face of the rising number of Covid patients at the hospital, he said, adding that medical staffers were trying their best to maintain hygiene at the emergency and outpatient departments but the general lack of awareness among the public was jeopardizing this process.
