Neurosciences Hospital opens 500-bed expansion, boosting neuro-treatment capacity

The National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital in Agargaon has inaugurated a new 500-bed building, raising its total capacity to 1,000 beds and making it the largest neuro hospital in Bangladesh.

The facility was inaugurated today (8 December) by Prof Dr Md Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the Chief Adviser and secretary of Health Services Division.

Outpatient services in the new building will begin tomorrow. By the end of the month, the hospital plans to launch a 100-bed trauma centre for paralysed patients, a 100-bed ICU, and a new operating theatre complex. Advanced diagnostic facilities, including MRI and CT scan services, will also be added.

Speaking at the inauguration, Dr Rahman highlighted that nearly 80 newly constructed hospital buildings across the country remain unused due to staffing shortages and infrastructure challenges. He warned that maintaining high-tech hospital buildings is far more complex and expensive than conventional facilities: "If biomedical teams cannot provide round-the-clock backend support, sensitive modular equipment may become non-functional." 

While describing the new neurology building as a "major landmark" for the country's public health sector, he stressed that the institute's role goes beyond providing treatment. 

"This should not remain just a service hospital; it must operate as the guardian of neurology for the entire country," he added.

Concerns over weak referral system

The secretary also addressed the event, expressing concern over the country's fragile medical referral system. The lack of coordination forces patients to move from one hospital to another unnecessarily, often worsening their condition.

"Dhaka hospitals are so overcrowded that there is barely standing space in corridors," he said. "A wrong referral can push a patient directly into danger."

He urged doctors to ensure proper guidance when referring patients: "If a patient is turned away, at least tell them what to do next. Sending a head injury patient elsewhere only for them to die, this kind of negligence cannot continue."

New manpower for a larger facility

To support the expanded infrastructure, the government has approved recruitment for 852 new positions, with the hiring process underway. Sixty nurses have already joined. The 15-storey building includes a three-level basement for parking and services, while upper floors house wards, operating theatres, and diagnostic units.

Hospital authorities said most patients here seek treatment for stroke or brain and spinal injuries resulting from accidents. Others include patients with Parkinson's disease, dementia, GBS, epilepsy, and hydrocephalus. The institute began in 2012 with 300 beds, later expanded to 500, but surging patient numbers continued to strain capacity. The new 500 beds are expected to ease that pressure substantially.

Construction delays and final completion

The building's construction initially began after project approval by ECNEC in 2018, awarded to GK Traders. However, work halted for nearly 21 months after the company's owner was arrested in 2019. Wahid Construction resumed work in 2021, and the facility is now fully operational.

Contrary to common perceptions of public hospitals – poor cleanliness, long delays, and dysfunctional equipment – the Neurosciences Hospital has maintained high service standards. The institute has won the National Health Minister's Award six consecutive times from 2017 to 2022 for excellence in cleanliness, equipment use, and service delivery.