Mostafa Kamal Nannu, Tangail
Despite being home to over 4 million people, Tangail district still lacks functional Intensive Care Unit (ICU) services in its government hospitals, leaving critically ill patients in severe distress. Both the 250-bed Tangail General Hospital and Tangail Medical College Hospital are unable to provide ICU support, forcing patients to seek emergency care in Dhaka — often at the cost of their lives.
Although an ICU ward was established on the second floor of Tangail General Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has remained closed since the crisis subsided. While the infrastructure for a 10-bed ICU exists, it is inoperative due to a lack of trained doctors, nurses, and support staff.
Tangail Medical College Hospital, founded in 2014, has yet to launch any ICU services. With no ICU at the district’s two main government hospitals, critically ill patients are frequently referred to Dhaka, resulting in financial burdens, delays in treatment, and — in some cases — deaths en route.
On average, more than 300 patients are admitted to Tangail General Hospital daily. However, healthcare delivery is severely hampered by acute manpower shortages. Among 58 approved doctor positions, 12 remain vacant. Additionally, the hospital is short 17 nurses, 3 paramedics, 3 second- and third-class staff, and 30 fourth-class workers.
Ambulance services regularly transfer patients to major hospitals in Dhaka, such as Dhaka Medical College Hospital, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, National Institute of Neurosciences, and the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR). According to Asad Mia, General Secretary of the Tangail Ambulance Owners’ Association, a minimum of 7–8 ambulances leave for Dhaka with critical patients each day, excluding those who travel via other means.
Road accidents are also a frequent occurrence along the Elenga–Jamuna Bridge highway in Kalihati Upazila, adding to the pressure on the healthcare system. Severely injured victims often require immediate ICU care that is simply unavailable locally.
Advocate Khan Mohammad Khaled, President of the Tangail chapter of the civil society group SUJAN, emphasized the urgent need for functional ICU services: “In a district of over 4 million people, the absence of ICU care is extremely concerning. Patients in critical condition are routinely referred to Dhaka. This must change.”
Dr. Khondaker Sadikur Rahman, Superintendent of Tangail General Hospital, confirmed that the ICU unit is ready in terms of space and basic equipment but cannot be made operational without additional personnel. “We need an anesthesiologist, a medical officer, three nurses, two medical technologists, three ward boys, two ayas, and four cleaners to launch ICU services. Requests for personnel and supplies have already been sent to the Directorate General of Health Services,” he added.
Meanwhile, Dr. Abdul Kuddus, Director of Tangail Medical College Hospital, stated that ICU services are currently unavailable due to both infrastructure and manpower limitations. “We admit more than 200 patients daily and provide outpatient care to over 1,000. Each day, at least 12 critical patients are referred to Dhaka. It is essential that ICU services be introduced without delay to ensure healthcare access for all.”
Until then, residents of Tangail remain vulnerable, facing life-threatening delays in receiving the intensive care they need.
