Private hospitals in Chattogram turn away patients with measles symptoms
Graphics: Agamir Somoy
What a difficult situation Farhanul Munira Nisha faced with her seven month old son. He had been suffering from fever for several days. He was receiving treatment under a doctor's supervision. But last Thursday, his body temperature suddenly began to fall. Some of his symptoms matched those of measles. However, it could not yet be confirmed that he had measles. The doctor advised hospital admission. The couple rushed from one clinic to another hospital with their son to get him admitted.
They first went to Metropolitan Hospital. The hospital does not provide treatment to measles patients. After contacting several people, they went to Labaid Hospital. But they were unsuccessful there too. The child could not be admitted because he had measles symptoms. They then went to Parkview Hospital. The child underwent tests in the emergency department. The hospital agreed to admit him to the measles block. But the child's measles had not yet been confirmed. Therefore, the private physician advised that he be admitted to a separate cabin. However, no cabin was available. After making many efforts and contacting people, the child was eventually admitted to Life Care Hospital in Askar Dighirpar. This is the situation in Chattogram city.
Farhanul Munira said, "Luckily, I did not admit my son to the measles block. His measles test report came back negative a day later. If I had admitted him there, he might have contracted measles."
Parents are moving from one hospital or clinic to another with children showing measles symptoms. Most private hospitals are not providing treatment to measles patients. They are not admitting patients because of the high risk of transmission. As a result, government hospitals remain the main option for measles treatment. This has increased pressure on Chattogram Medical College (CMCH) Hospital and General Hospital. Patients are struggling to get beds at the two hospitals.
At CMCH Hospital, the number of measles and measles symptom patients was almost twice the number of available beds on Monday. There were 120 patients. General Hospital had 30 patients. The hospital has only 16 beds in its measles block. As a result, measles patients are being treated in crowded conditions. Another 50 or so patients are receiving treatment at the Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases (BITID) Hospital in Fauzdarhat.
District Civil Surgeon Sajedur Rahman told Agamir Somoy, "Measles is extremely contagious. Therefore, if 100 percent isolation cannot be maintained, there is a risk of transmission. Both children and adults are contracting measles. Therefore, private hospitals have been instructed to provide treatment while maintaining isolation."
No from private hospitals
Most private hospitals of different sizes in Chattogram are not admitting measles patients. They do not admit patients because of the risk of infection. Medical Centre Hospital at GEC intersection has facilities for 150 patients. But it also does not admit measles patients. Hospital manager Mohammad Yasin said there is no space to create a separate block for measles patients. That is why they cannot admit such patients.
Similarly, Metropolitan Hospital, Max Hospital, National Hospital and CSCR are among the private hospitals that do not provide treatment for measles.
Parkview Hospital has a separate block for measles patients. However, the block has more patients than its available beds. Among private hospitals, Agrabad Maa O Shishu General Hospital has also established an isolation block for measles patients.
Hospital director Mohammad Mohiuddin said there were 29 measles patients at the hospital on Monday. Another five patients were in the intensive care unit (ICU).
Chattogram Medical College Hospital Director Brigadier General Mohammad Taslim Uddin believes the higher number of measles patients at his hospital is due to limited admission opportunities at private hospitals. He said, "A separate department has been established for measles. Even then, the situation cannot be managed. A separate intensive care unit (ICU) has also been established. If strict isolation like during COVID 19 could be maintained, measles would decrease further. Now parents are bringing healthy children for treatment alongside sick children. As a result, they are being put at risk."
