Govt going slow on pvt hospitals as public facilities still not strained

NEWS DESK

The government is yet to decide on which private medical college hospitals to take over as dedicated COVID-19 hospitals despite the announcement made by the Bangladesh Private Medical College Association days back.

At a virtual briefing on COVID-19 situation organised by DGHS, BPMCA president Mubin Khan and secretary general and disaster management minister Dr Enamur Rahman made the announcement on April 09.

They said all the 69 medical college hospitals remain open round the clock to provide service to general patients. They are also ready to dedicate some of the medical college hospitals for treating COVID-19 patients during such crises.

But only two hospitals--Anwer Khan Modern and Sahabuddin Medical College Hospital--have come forward with the offer to treat COVID-19 patients until now.

Both the association and the DGHS think at the moment, the patients can be accommodated in the government facilities. That's why the government is a bit slow in arranging treatment facilities in private medical college hospitals against the widespread criticism and panic among people regarding mismanagement, lack of treatment facilities and doctors and health workers to provide services in the dedicated COVID-19 hospitals.

Talking to the FE, director general of DGHS Professor Dr Abul Kalam Azad said the World Health Organisation has divided the COVID-19 patients into four categories--mild, moderate, severe and critical. Of them, mild patients constitute 40 per cent, moderate 40 per cent, severe 15 per cent and critical five per cent.

"We have decided to admit severe and critical patients only, which was earlier flexible for all kinds of patients with mild or moderate symptoms. We are not sending patients to Anwer Khan Hospital. Only Regent Hospital and Sajida Foundation are receiving COVID-19 patients now," said Dr Azad.

He said the patients also have their own choice. Any private medical college hospital will be taken over if the number of patients rises.

Regarding the projection on the number of patients, he said DGHS has a projection but that will not sustain in the changing situation as people are not following lockdown and social distancing rules. They are gathering at janaza and kitchen markets, he added.

When asked about the complaints regarding treatment and other facilities at the two dedicated COVID-19 hospitals--Kuwait Maitree and Kurmitola general hospital--Dr Azad said in the prevailing situation, there is nothing unusual. Doctors and nurses are not mentally prepared to provide services to COVID-19 patients. Earlier, attendants were allowed with the patients. But now such practice has been restricted causing sufferings to the patients, the DG explained.

Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) director Professor Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora said on Tuesday 765 Covid confirmed patients were receiving treatment in various hospitals across the country. But all the 67 hospitals did not have patients.

Dr Flora said 241 patients were undergoing treatment in the 500-bed Kurmitola general hospital and 127 patients in the 200- bed Kuwait Maitree Hospital.

"Patients in Narayanganj are admitted to Sajida Foundation as the 300-bed general hospital is under preparation. Critical patients outside Dhaka do not come to Dhaka. There are no such critical patients now outside Dhaka," she said.

If necessary, medical college hospitals will be used for treating critical COVID-19 patients outside Dhaka, she added.

When contacted, BPMCA secretary general Dr Enamur Rahman said the government has 6,900 beds. They have prepared Shahid Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital with 850 beds and Mugda general hospital with 300 beds.

"There are adequate beds in government setups as of now. That's why the process of taking over the private medical college hospitals is a bit slow. But our 69 hospitals are providing services to general patients. The government can take over any of them anytime as a dedicated COVID-19 hospital," he said.

Former pro vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Professor Dr Rashid-e-Mahbub said Kuwait Maitree hospital was not a functioning hospital. That's why the authority will face problem making the staff working as a team. It will be difficult to make the private sector staff working for COVID-19 patients. That's why they should choose hospitals with full functional teams and set up for critical patients. Holy Family Hospital with 500 beds will be good.

"I have offered Bangladesh Institute of Health Sciences Hospital with 250 beds and oxygen support as a dedicated COVID-19 hospital. But there is no response," said the veteran health rights activist.

He also warned that no initiative will be effective if the doctors do not have moral strength and motivation in treating COVID-19 patients.