Five 200-bed children’s hospitals to be launched by year-end: Ziauddin

Five 200-bed children's hospitals that have remained unused since construction due to a lack of manpower and equipment are expected to be launched by the end of this year, Prime Minister's Special Assistant for Health Affairs Dr SM Ziauddin Haider said on Saturday.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to inaugurate the five hospitals together around November-December, he said.

Ziauddin Haider shared the information while speaking to journalists after visiting Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) and exchanging views with its doctors and officials this afternoon.

Asked about the long-delayed launch of Rajshahi Children's Hospital, he said the process of creating new posts to recruit the required manpower has been completed, while the purchase of equipment and furniture is in its final stage.

He said the prime minister will announce the inauguration of the five hospitals together from Dhaka.

Regarding the manpower and infrastructure shortages at RMCH, the special assistant said the hospital was facing a shortage of doctors, nurses and other staff.

Although the hospital's capacity was officially upgraded from 550 to 1,200 beds in 2013, its manpower, infrastructure and equipment were not expanded accordingly. As a result, it was still operating largely with the capacity of a 550-bed hospital, he said.

He said the previous government had declared the hospital a 1,200-bed facility without making the necessary arrangements.

The current government has decided to establish 100 ICU beds alongside the 1,200 general beds at the hospital, he said.

A project has been taken to develop the infrastructure of RMCH and seven other old medical college hospitals, with additional manpower, equipment and facilities in line with their bed capacity.

Expansion work at RMCH is expected to begin by the end of this year, which will help improve the hospital's existing situation, he added.

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Referring to the high incidence of snakebites in the Rajshahi region due to its proximity to the Padma River, Ziauddin Haider said the hospital often lacked the necessary facilities to treat snakebite patients. 

He expressed hope that an adequate supply of antivenom will reach the hospital soon.

Asked about allegations of irregularities by a contractor in supplying lifts for the RMCH ICU building and the resulting suffering of patients, he said he was unaware of the matter.

RMCH Director Brigadier General PKM Masud-Ul-Islam later said the incident dated back to 2023. An investigation found that the lifts supplied by the contractor were unsuitable, and a report had been sent to the ministry.

The ministry was processing action based on the findings, while the Public Works Department had also conducted a fresh investigation. Measures were being taken in line with that report, he added.

Reserved women's seat MP Mahmuda Habiba, Rajshahi Medical University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Jawadul Haque and hospital doctors were present during the visit.