Joypurhat hospital ICU lies idle despite Tk1.5cr investment

A 10-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) equipped with modern medical facilities at the 250-bed Joypurhat General Hospital has remained non-operational for nearly four years due to a severe shortage of specialist doctors and trained staff, depriving critically ill patients of advanced healthcare services.
The ICU unit was established in January 2022 on the fourth floor of the hospital’s old building during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the importance of critical care facilities became increasingly evident. The project was funded jointly by the Directorate General of Health Services, the Public Works Department, the District Council, several private organizations, and local philanthropists. Although the unit was formally inaugurated, it has yet to admit a single patient.
Hospital sources said the ICU is fully equipped with modern life-support systems, including ventilators, patient monitoring devices, oxygen supply systems, and suction machines for each bed. However, the absence of anesthesiologists, critical care specialists, trained nurses, and technical staff has prevented the facility from becoming operational.
Medical professionals noted that a functioning ICU requires round-the-clock supervision by specialist physicians and trained personnel. Running such a facility without adequate manpower would pose serious risks to patient safety. Despite repeated requests from hospital authorities to higher officials for staffing support, no effective measures have yet been taken.
Senior Staff Nurse Abdullah Rana said the equipment must be operated for at least four hours daily to keep the systems functional. Otherwise, batteries and sensitive components could deteriorate from prolonged inactivity.
Although the hospital has been upgraded to a 250-bed facility, it continues to operate with staffing structures meant for only 100 beds. Of the 46 approved physician posts, only 33 are currently filled, leaving 13 positions vacant. While at least seven anesthesiologists are needed to run the ICU, the hospital currently has only two.
Patients and their families say the inactive ICU forces critically ill individuals to travel to Bogura, Rajshahi, or Dhaka for emergency treatment, resulting in delays, additional costs, and, in some cases, worsening conditions during transport.
“We have an ICU in the district, but it is of no use to us,” said Moniruzzaman, a patient’s relative. “In emergencies, transferring patients outside the district causes immense suffering.” Retired banker KM Shahin Iqbal from Joypurhat town said the ICU could have greatly benefited local residents if it had been made operational. “Keeping such a vital facility unused for years only increases public hardship,” he added.
Hospital Superintendent Dr Sardar Rashed Mobarak said all infrastructural preparations for launching the ICU have been completed and 16 senior nurses have received specialized training. However, the shortage of specialist doctors remains the primary obstacle.
“We have informed the higher authorities several times about the staffing crisis,” he said. “If the required doctors and personnel are appointed, the ICU can be launched immediately.”
Local residents have urged the government to take urgent steps to recruit the necessary specialists and staff so that the long-awaited ICU can finally begin serving patients and help save lives.