Covid-19 hospital runs without oxygen supply, ICU facilities
Hospital authorities say work on building infrastructure for the corona unit is still going on, which is why patients are not getting proper services
Yakub-Un-Nabi was admitted to Bangabandhu Memorial Hospital in Chattogram city with respiratory problems on June 15.
He needed oxygen support as his breathing problem deteriorated. However, the hospital authorities, it is alleged, informed the patient's attendants that there was no such facility.
The authorities also said if it was urgent, the patient's relatives would have to collect an oxygen cylinder on their own initiative.
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Mohon Uddin, a relative of Yakub, told The Business Standard, "As Bangabandhu Memorial Hospital is dedicated for Covid-19 patients as well as for patients with coronavirus-like symptoms, we took Yakub uncle to the hospital. But after the admission, we've come to know that there is no arrangement for oxygen supply. The hospital authorities are cheating with patients."
Bangabandhu Memorial Hospital is one of the two private hospitals in the port city, which have been dedicated for Covid-19 patients and for patients with Covid-19-like symptoms.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), all the critical Covid-19 patients have to be given oxygen and they have to be kept in Intensive Care Units (ICU). Besides, an arrangement of ventilators should be there.
The condition of Covid-19 patients can worsen anytime. So a hospital should admit a coronavirus patient after ensuring all the necessary facilities for the patients, according to medical consultants.
However, the Covid-19 dedicated Bangabandhu Memorial Hospital has none of the aforementioned facilities.
The hospital launched the coronavirus unit with 50 beds on June 9. Earlier, the government took over the private hospital for the treatment of Covid-19 patients and patients with Covid-19-like symptoms.
Towards the beginning, the hospital refused to admit patients suffering from Covid-19 or Covid-19-like symptoms but later it was compelled to admit them under pressure from the government.
However, allegations are still there that patients are not given proper treatment at the hospital.
Ashab Uddin, a relative of a patient at the coronavirus unit, said, "There is no treatment in the hospital. Sometimes, nurses come to the corona unit but no physician comes to see the patients.
"On Wednesday night, the condition of my relative deteriorated but no doctor came to see him. So, we might leave the hospital."
However, the hospital authorities said work on building infrastructure for the corona unit is still going on and that was why the patients are not getting proper services.
"Though it was supposed to be a 100-bed unit, currently there are 50 beds. Other 50 beds are being set up. A central oxygen plant, oxygen supply line and other necessary equipment are being installed. Besides, the work of setting up a three-bed intensive care unit is also going on. Once it is done, all the patients will get all types of facilities."
But, Dr Kamrul Hasan, director of the hospital, denied the allegation of not having oxygen cylinders at the hospital. He said, "We have sufficient stock of oxygen cylinders."
Dr Sheikh Fazle Rabbi, civil surgeon of Chattogram, said, "We will monitor the private hospitals which have been dedicated for coronavirus patients.
"As per the rule, the private hospitals can take money in exchange of giving proper services. But, it is not fair to take money without delivering services. We will take action if we receive any complaint in this regard."
