This notice appears at the main gate of Sheikh Rasel Gastro Liver Institute and Hospital at Mohakhali in the capital. This is one of the hospitals which the government has selected for the treatment of coronavirus patients.

While visiting these three hospitals, Prothom Alo correspondent found that one of the hospitals was partially prepared and the other two were still at the initial stage of preparations. Several hospitals outside Dhaka were also not prepared.

The physicians said adequate personal protection equipment (PPE) for physicians and nurses have not reached the hospitals as yet. Intensive care unit (ICU) and ventilators are essential for coronavirus patients, but these facilities are not available at all the designated hospitals.

According to the directives of World Health Organisation (WHO), health workers have to be trained to prevent spread of coronavirus. Besides, the hospitals have to have PPE and ventilators.

Director of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Aminul Hasan said eight hospitals have been designated to treat only coronavirus patients in the capital. Besides, Dhaka Medial College Hospital, Mugda General, Kurmitola, Suhrawardy and Infectious Diseases Hospital have separate beds for the patients.

Kuwait-Bangladesh Friendship Hospital has started working in full swing. Metropolitan Hospital has opened an outdoor department. Other hospitals including Gastro Liver will start functioning this week for the purpose.

Hospital sources said the preparation to treat coronavirus patients was at the primary stage. A few more days may be required to start treating coronavirus patients. This 250-bed hospital has eight ICUs.

Speaking to Prothom Alo, director of the hospital Faruk Ahmed said they are preparing. The physicians need to be trained, he said adding they have received some PPE, but not sufficient.

The 200-bed Maternal & Child Health Training & Research Institute, Lalkuthi, Mirpur will be used to treat coronavirus patients. DGHS has recruited some health workers, but all of them have not joined yet. While visiting the hospital on Monday, it was found to be empty. Training was being given to physicians and nurses in a room on sixth floor of the hospital.

Hospital sources said there is no ICU in the hospital and no ventilation facility.

Hospital director Shamsul Karim said they are preparing the hospital and face a crisis in workforce.

He said the hospital will go into operation when they have the workforce.

Shamsul said the health department has provided 18 physicians and 30 nurses. Twelve physicians and 25 nurses joined till Monday. He said they have been given 30 PPE and more PPE will be given.

Two branches of Regent Hospital, one at Mirpur and the other at Uttara, will treat coronavirus patients. The 50-bed Mirpur branch has not started treatment.

Hospital sources said preparations are at the final stage. Some 50 PPE have been provided and more will be given.

Outside Dhaka

The 30-bed Rajshahi Infectious Disease Hospital and 10-bed Leprosy Cure Centre have been prepared as isolation units. There are two out of the three required physicians. Seven nurses have been appointed there.

A senior staff nurse of Rajshahi Medical College was sent to the isolation unit of infectious disease hospital on Saturday after she showed symptoms of coronavirus. Seeing the bad shape of the unit, she went to self-quarantine at her home. Her condition has not improved. Besides, a 46-year-old patient with fever and breathing problems was admitted to Rajshahi Medical College. Later the patient was kept at ICU. Samples are being sent to Dhaka to test whether the patient is infected with coronavirus.

RMCH deputy director Saiful Ferdous said PPE and necessary training have been given to physicians and nurses of isolation unit. He, however, said there are no ventilators, ICU and oxygen supply at the hospital and no test kit.

Chittagong General Hospital and Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Disease (BITID) at Sitakunda have been selected to treat coronavirus patients.

Isolation units have been set up in these two hospitals. But these hospitals have no ICUs.

BITID director MA Hasan Chowdhury said some patients may require ICU.

A 100-bed isolation unit at Khulna Medical College Hospital has been set up. Physicians and nurses have been provided with PPE. But there is an allegation that masks provided are of low quality.

Hospital director ATM Monjur said a separate corner has been opened at the outdoor department to treat patients with coughs and breathing problems.

A 20-bed isolation unit has been established on the second floor of the annex building at Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College. If necessary this will be turned into 200 beds. A separate team has been formed for the isolation unit.

Hospital sources said only masks and gloves have been given to physicians and nurses of the emergency department. Two of ten ventilators are out of order.