The country’s largest 60-bed ICU complex has been built at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.
According to hospital sources, it includes 40 beds for adults and 20 for children. However, it has not yet received government approval and is being run under the hospital’s own management.
Under special arrangements, of the 40 adult ICU beds, 12 are being used for young patients, 16 for older patients and 12 for children. The remaining 20 pediatric ICU beds cannot be operationalized due to lack of necessary equipment and human resources, even though the demand for pediatric ICU care is very high.
Hospital director Brigadier General PKM Masood Ul Islam said the 40-bed ICU currently operating at Rajshahi Medical College is not government approved and is being run entirely under the hospital’s own arrangements, with no staff appointed by the government.
Meanwhile, a 200-bed children’s hospital, including a 10-bed pediatric ICU, has been constructed in Lakshmipur area of the city. Although construction was scheduled to be completed in 2023, the facility has not yet been handed over, and its staffing structure has not been approved.
ICU in-charge Abu Hena Mustafa Kamal said, “Infrastructure for children’s hospital and pediatric ICU is already in place in Rajshahi. What is needed now is proper management of government resources and goodwill.”