The scope of medical services for neurological patients in the country is expanding further. A new 500-bed building at the National Institute of Neurosciences & Hospital in Dhaka, the capital, is set to open tomorrow, Saturday. Prime Minister Tareque Rahman is expected to officially inaugurate this new building at 10 AM on that day.
Officials involved with the National Institute of Neurosciences & Hospital have stated that the construction of the hospital’s new building has already been completed. The installation of most equipment has also concluded. Once operational, the hospital’s total bed count will increase to one thousand, making it the country’s largest specialized neurological treatment center.
A visit to the site revealed that the new building is 15 stories high. The bottom three floors are designated as basements, housing parking areas along with service sections. The upper 12 floors feature wards, operation theatres, and diagnostic units. Additionally, it includes 40 ICU beds, 24 post-operative beds, and 112 cabins.
Discussions with hospital doctors revealed that stroke patients are the most frequent recipients of treatment here, followed by accident victims (with brain and spinal cord injuries).
Furthermore, patients suffering from various neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s, dementia, GBS, epilepsy, and hydrocephalus, receive services at this hospital. It provides treatment for neurological diseases affecting everyone from children to the elderly.
A visit to the newly constructed NINS Unit-2, a 15-story structure including three basements, revealed it to be fully equipped with a central AC system (air-conditioned), which is a first for any government medical center in the country. Additionally, there is a specialized 100-bed trauma unit for those injured in road accidents, falls from heights, or vehicular incidents, featuring 24-hour OT (operation theatre) facilities. Among the four OTs, two are modular OTs (specialized operation theatres for sterile and controlled environment surgeries). Surgeries performed in these state-of-the-art German technology OTs will have no risk of infection for patients.
Officials further stated that transporting physically challenged and head-injured patients usually presents challenges. To mitigate this risk, the new hospital building includes escalators (moving stairs) from the first to the third floor for easy patient transfer between floors, another first for a government hospital. It also boasts a 40-bed ICU, a 20-bed HDU (High Dependency Unit), and 62 ventilators (artificial respiration machines). A cath lab, two MRI machines, and two CT scan machines have been installed. Additionally, there are state-of-the-art autoclave (medical equipment sterilization) machines, a solid waste disposal system for medical waste removal, and a separate oxygen plant.
Professor Dr. Mohammad Nuruzzaman Khan, Director of the National Institute of Neurosciences & Hospital, told the state news agency BSS, ‘Prime Minister Tareque Rahman will officially inaugurate the new building tomorrow, Saturday (August 15). With the launch of this building, an additional 500 beds will be added to the hospital.’
‘Currently, due to a shortage of beds, many patients have to be turned away because no patients are admitted beyond the available bed capacity. After the inauguration, we will be able to provide world-class service to many more patients. Patients will no longer need to be turned back,’ he added.
He further stated, ‘To increase medical services for neurological patients in the country, the then Prime Minister, late Begum Khaleda Zia, laid the foundation stone of the National Institute of Neurosciences & Hospital on October 23, 2006. On Begum Khaleda Zia’s birthday, her worthy son, the current Prime Minister Tareque Rahman, will inaugurate the new building of this hospital. This is a great achievement and a matter of pride for us.’