BITID to get five ICU beds, new laboratory to test Covid-19

In order to treat critically ill Covid-19 patients, five ICU beds are being installed at Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases (BITID) in Chattogram.

Besides, a new RT-PCR laboratory is also being set up at the hospital to increase its testing capacity.

Currently there is no ICU facility at BITID, which has a 32-bed ward dedicated for Covid-19 patients.

So critical patients who need ICU support are either referred to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) or Chattogram General Hospital (CGH), said hospital sources.

Meanwhile, the work to set up the ICU beds and laboratory started from Sunday, being implemented by Public Works Department. Officials expect the ICU beds will be set up within two weeks while the laboratory by six weeks.

BITID, located at Fouzdarhat of Sitakunda upazila, is the first hospital in Chattogram region that started Covid-19 testing in its lone RT-PCR laboratory when the pandemic broke out in the country in March last year.

At that time, samples from eight districts used to be tested there, said sources at the hospital. It is also the first hospital in the region to come up with treatment of Covid-19 patients, they added.

Although BITID laboratory has the capacity of testing around 500 samples a day, officials are testing 800 to 1,000 per day, said Prof Dr Shakeel Ahmed, head of BITD laboratory.

"So, we requested the government to set up another laboratory in the hospital. Our testing capacity will double once the new lab goes into operation," he said.  

"We will also require four molecular biologists and four lab technicians along with two MLSS (member of lower subordinate staff). The government assured us to provide that as well," he said.

Mamunur Rashid, associate professor of Clinical and Tropical Diseases and head of Covid-19 ward at BITID, said, "At present, we have one HDU where we treat patients with high-flow nasal cannula but we do not have an ICU."

Once the ICU beds are installed, it would benefit patients as they do not have to be referred to other places, he said.

"We have also requested for six trained doctors and 12 nursing staff to operate the ICU," he added.  

At present, there are 28 ICU beds at government hospitals in Chattogram dedicated for Covid-19 patients. Of those, 18 beds are in CGH and 10 in CMCH.

Besides, some 40 ICU beds are in private hospitals where patients have to pay Tk 12,000-20,000 a day to get the support, said sources.

Contacted, Chattogram Civil Surgeon Dr Sheikh Fazle Rabbi said installation of ICU beds in BITID would help poor patients get treatment.

He said more facilities would be provided in government hospitals for Covid-19 patients as per requirement.