Critical Care Capacity Expands Across 10 More District Hospitals

Bangladesh is set to strengthen healthcare services at the district level with the official inauguration of Intensive Care Units (ICUs) in 10 district hospitals on June 14. The facilities have been established under the Emergency Response and Pandemic Preparedness (ERPP) Project to enhance critical care services outside major urban centers.

The newly established ICUs will begin operations at Munshiganj 250-Bed District Hospital, Tangail 250-Bed District Hospital, Sunamganj 250-Bed District Sadar Hospital, Gopalganj 250-Bed General Hospital, Chuadanga District Hospital, Narayanganj General (Victoria) Hospital, Jashore 250-Bed General Hospital, Sherpur 250-Bed District Sadar Hospital, Madaripur District Hospital, and Bagerhat District Hospital.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, each ICU has been equipped with essential medical equipment, including pediatric ventilators and oxygen concentrators. Necessary healthcare personnel have also been recruited to ensure the smooth operation of the units.

Healthcare officials said the newly launched ICUs will significantly improve access to advanced emergency and intensive care services for both pediatric and adult patients suffering from critical illnesses. The expansion is expected to reduce the need for transferring severely ill patients to major hospitals in Dhaka or divisional cities for specialized treatment.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced that Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain will formally inaugurate the ICU services. The central inauguration ceremony is scheduled to take place at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday at Narayanganj General (Victoria) Hospital, while the remaining nine hospitals will join the event virtually.

Officials involved in the health sector believe that the expansion of ICU services at the district level will substantially strengthen the country’s healthcare infrastructure. They noted that the initiative will enhance local hospitals’ capacity to provide emergency medical care, respond to public health crises, and manage critically ill patients more effectively.

They further emphasized that the initiative will bring advanced critical care services closer to communities, while reducing both treatment costs and the hardship faced by patients and their families.

//DBTech/JZD/AK/OR//