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Vola 250‑Bed General Hospital Lacks Operational ICU Despite Equipment Vola, a district in the Barishal division of Bangladesh, has a 250‑bed general hospital that has been unable to operate its intensive care unit (ICU) for more than five years. The ICU, established on 29 July 2021, was supplied with six ICU beds, ventilators, and oxygen concentrators from the Central Medical Equipment Depot (CMED). However, the unit remains locked and unused due to a shortage of qualified medical staff, including specialist doctors and trained nurses. The hospital’s ICU was intended to provide advanced care for critical patients such as those with dengue, heart disease, stroke, and severe respiratory distress. In its absence, patients requiring intensive treatment are transferred to larger facilities in Barishal or Dhaka. According to Dr. M. Arafatur Rahman, the hospital’s resident medical officer, a severe dengue patient was referred to Barishal on Thursday morning because the ICU was not operational. Local residents have voiced their frustration. Nayan, a resident of the Sadar Upazila, stood outside the hospital with a placard demanding the opening of the ICU and a coronary care unit (CCU). He recounted that his father was brought to the hospital at 12:30 a.m. on 26 October, but the lack of ICU services led to his death. “I want the hospital to open the ICU and CCU so that no other family has to go through this,” he said. Another resident, M. Arif, described an incident in which a relative suffered a heart attack late last year. The patient was advised to be taken to Barishal for ICU care, but the transfer was delayed and the patient died en route. “If the ICU had been available, the patient might have survived,” Arif said. The ICU’s physical infrastructure is also in disrepair. The third floor of the new hospital building houses a glass door with two locks, behind which the six ICU beds are stored. Dust has accumulated on the beds, indicating years of inactivity. Dr. Tayyebur Rahman, the hospital’s superintendent, noted that despite multiple letters to higher authorities, no action has been taken to staff or activate the unit. The lack of trained personnel is cited as the primary barrier to opening the ICU. Dr. Rahman emphasized that a functional ICU requires not only doctors and nurses but also supporting staff and adequate supplies. Without these resources, the ICU cannot be launched. The situation highlights a broader issue of underutilized medical equipment and insufficient staffing in rural hospitals across Bangladesh. The Vola 250‑Bed General Hospital’s experience underscores the need for coordinated efforts to ensure that critical care facilities are both equipped and staffed to serve local populations. Article source: Ajker Patrika | Image credit: Ajker Patrika
Vola 250‑Bed General Hospital Lacks Operational ICU Despite Equipment Vola, a district in the Barishal division of Bangladesh, has a 250‑bed general hospital that has been unable to operate its intensive care unit (ICU) for more than five years. The ICU, established on 29 July 2021, was supplied with six ICU beds, ventilators, and oxygen concentrators from the Central Medical Equipment Depot (CMED). However, the unit remains locked and unused due to a shortage of qualified medical staff, including specialist doctors and trained nurses. The hospital’s ICU was intended to provide advanced care for critical patients such as those with dengue, heart disease, stroke, and severe respiratory distress. In its absence, patients requiring intensive treatment are transferred to larger facilities in Barishal or Dhaka. According to Dr. M. Arafatur Rahman, the hospital’s resident medical officer, a severe dengue patient was referred to Barishal on Thursday morning because the ICU was not operational. Local residents have voiced their frustration. Nayan, a resident of the Sadar Upazila, stood outside the hospital with a placard demanding the opening of the ICU and a coronary care unit (CCU). He recounted that his father was brought to the hospital at 12:30 a.m. on 26 October, but the lack of ICU services led to his death. “I want the hospital to open the ICU and CCU so that no other family has to go through this,” he said. Another resident, M. Arif, described an incident in which a relative suffered a heart attack late last year. The patient was advised to be taken to Barishal for ICU care, but the transfer was delayed and the patient died en route. “If the ICU had been available, the patient might have survived,” Arif said. The ICU’s physical infrastructure is also in disrepair. The third floor of the new hospital building houses a glass door with two locks, behind which the six ICU beds are stored. Dust has accumulated on the beds, indicating years of inactivity. Dr. Tayyebur Rahman, the hospital’s superintendent, noted that despite multiple letters to higher authorities, no action has been taken to staff or activate the unit. The lack of trained personnel is cited as the primary barrier to opening the ICU. Dr. Rahman emphasized that a functional ICU requires not only doctors and nurses but also supporting staff and adequate supplies. Without these resources, the ICU cannot be launched. The situation highlights a broader issue of underutilized medical equipment and insufficient staffing in rural hospitals across Bangladesh. The Vola 250‑Bed General Hospital’s experience underscores the need for coordinated efforts to ensure that critical care facilities are both equipped and staffed to serve local populations.
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