200-bed Rajshahi children’s hospital still unopened despite acute ICU shortage
A fully constructed 200-bed children’s hospital in Rajshahi has remained unopened for nearly three years due to administrative uncertainty and delays in approving its staffing structure, even as Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) grapples with a severe shortage of intensive care facilities for children.
According to RMCH authorities, at least 28 children died between March 11 and March 25 this year while waiting for admission to an intensive care unit (ICU).
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. “They were advised to receive intensive care but remained waiting due to a shortage of ICU beds,” RMCH Spokesperson Dr Shankar K Bishwas told The Daily Star, adding that at least 30 to 40 more children are currently waiting for ICU support.
The crisis comes despite the completion of the four-storey hospital near the city’s Lakhsmipur area in June 2023. Built at a cost of Tk 35 crore on 2.44 acres of land, the facility has remained idle.
According to PWD-2 Rajshahi, the hospital is fully equipped with modern healthcare infrastructure, including a 56-bed intensive care unit, operation theatres and diagnostic services such as X-ray, CT scan and MRI units.
Meanwhile, RMCH’s paediatric ward continues to operate far beyond capacity. Dr Shankar said the department has 200 beds but regularly accommodates between 1,000 and 1,200 patients.
The situation has been further complicated by the spread of measles infections among children in the region.
Although an isolation corner has been set up for measles patients at ward no. 10 of the paediatric department at RMCH, space shortages mean not all infected children can be isolated, raising concerns about further transmission.
During a visit to the ward today, a separate isolation corner was seen where children infected with measles were being treated.
Saiful Islam, father of a patient, said he brought his child to the hospital 22 days ago with symptoms of measles.
“Since then, my child has been receiving treatment in the isolation corner. My child is suffering a lot because of measles,” he said.
However, another guardian alleged that isolation facilities remain inadequate.
Habiba Khatun, mother of another child patient who was staying in a general bed in the same ward, said that her daughter also has measles but has been kept alongside other paediatric patients instead of being placed in the isolation corner.
The head of RMCH’s paediatric department, Shahida Yasmin, said around 270 patients with symptoms of measles have been admitted to the hospital so far this year.
“Among those who were suspected to have measles or showed symptoms, around 29 have died,” she said, adding that children aged up to six months are the most affected while those above one year face a comparatively lower risk of infection.
Despite mounting patient pressure and infectious disease concerns, the newly built children’s hospital remains unused.
PWD-2 Rajshahi Executive Engineer Md Mizanur Rahman said neither the Rajshahi civil surgeon’s office nor RMCH has taken charge of the facility.
“We have sent a letter to the health ministry seeking approval of the organogram, which will determine administrative responsibility and staffing,” he said.
Rajshahi Civil Surgeon Dr SIM Raziul Karim said a committee had earlier been formed to oversee the process of making the hospital operational.
The committee, chaired by the RMCH director, had sent a letter to the health ministry regarding the issue. The ministry instructed the RMCH director to shift the paediatric department of RMCH to the children’s hospital. However, RMCH spokesperson Dr Shankar said the management of the children’s hospital does not fall under RMCH’s jurisdiction.
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