Dhaka hospitals nearly out of beds

• 99 ICU beds are now available
  
• Two-third of general beds occupied
• First dose jab receivers among patients
• Many infected recently visited Cox’s Bazar
•  New 200 ICU beds yet to be set

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As another coronavirus wave has started sweeping over the country raising the cases to record level in the recent days, specialized Covid hospitals in the capital are once again facing the challenge to accommodate the patients.

Experts said the recent surge in Covid-19 cases could be the start of a second wave in Bangladesh. But health authorities are confident over their preparations to tackle the situation.

According to Integrated Control Room of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), in all 211 out of total 263 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds at 19 public and private hospitals in Dhaka were occupied as of Monday. In the meantime, 2,158 out of 3,257 general beds at the hospitals in the city are occupied.

That means, only 1,099 general beds and 99 ICU beds in the city hospitals are now available to admit patients. 

DGHS Director (Hospitals) Dr Farid Uddin Miah said the surge in cases is still contained within the capital, for now. 

All the ICU beds at specialised health centres like Kurmitola General Hospital, Kuwait-Bangladesh Maitree Hospital, Mugda Medical College Hospital, Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), Sheikh Rasel Gastro Liver Institute and Hospital have been occupied. And all other dedicated hospitals have seen significant increase in the number of patients.

To be specific, only 5 ICU beds in government hospital and 52 in private hospitals are vacant in the city.

On the other hand, one-fourth general beds (639 beds) in Dhaka are vacant in the government hospitals while one third (1099 beds) in the private hospitals. 

Dr Anisur Rahman, head of the ICU Department at Mugda Medical College and Hospital, said the number of patients who need ICU beds has increased over the past few days. Dhaka Medical College Principal and Medicine Department Professor Titu Miah said they have seen a similar trend. 

Sources from several government hospitals said a significant number of patients admitted with Covid symptoms have taken first dose of the vaccine. Prof Titu Miah said many of the patients recently visited Cox’s Bazar and they are suspected to have been infected there.

How is the government’s preparation?

Dr Aminul Hasan, former director (hospitals) of DGHS, last year said that 200 new ICUs were to be installed across the country. But many of those are yet to be set.

Mugda Medical College Hospital was supposed to get 10 new ICUs, but they have received only 5 units so far. DMCH is supposed to receive 20 new units and Kurmitola General Hospital 10 with ICU set-up.

Authorities concerned said they are hopeful of installing all ICUs soon.

Current DGHS Director (Hospitals) Dr Farid Miah admitted that they have failed to finish ICU installations. “However, we have completed installing central oxygen supply connections at over a hundred hospitals throughout the country,” he said.

Around 715 high flow nozzle cannulas, 660 oxygen concentrators, and 12,773 oxygen cylinders have been distributed to Covid-19 dedicated hospitals.

“We already have a clinical setup at the hospitals and the hospitals have been instructed to revive them to tackle the situation, if needed,” the director said.

Prof Titu Miah said current resources and measures needed to stay resilient against a second wave of Covid-19 were discussed at a meeting between hospitals and health authorities last Wednesday.

“We can say that we are prepared enough to face it,” he added.