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Published : 27 Apr 2026, 01:41 AM
Although the Directorate General of Health Services has ordered that no hospital in Bangladesh turn away measles patients or those showing symptoms, the reality on the ground appears far more complicated.
Hospital chiefs at several major facilities say it is impossible to expand bed capacity overnight, as doing so requires space, oxygen support, equipment and additional staff.
They insist, however, that efforts are being made to ensure patients are not refused treatment.
Public health experts say simply increasing bed numbers will not be enough.
They argue that the government must declare a public health emergency to tackle the outbreak effectively.
On Sunday, 6-month-old Cynthia was brought to the DNCC Hospital in Mohakhali with fever, respiratory distress, and rashes.
Her father Rubel said doctors advised them to go home or seek admission at a children’s hospital if the condition worsened.
Her prescription from the outpatient department carried the note: "Referred to Shishu Hospital".
On Apr 23, the DGHS issued an emergency directive stating that no hospital could send away patients with measles or measles-like symptoms.
Even if no beds were available, hospitals were instructed to arrange additional accommodation.
When bdnews24.com sought an explanation from DNCC Hospital over Cynthia's referral, a staff member outside the director's office said the director only speaks to journalists on Saturdays.
The highest number of measles patients in Dhaka are currently being treated at the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Mohakhali, Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute, and DNCC Hospital.
Officials say all three facilities are operating beyond capacity.
Dr FA Asma Khan, superintendent of the Infectious Diseases Hospital, said: "We are trying to admit patients by any means possible. Patients are occupying both beds and corridors."
"The hospital has 25 dedicated measles beds, but nearly twice that number of patients are currently admitted."
She said creating new beds requires oxygen supply, space and other logistical support.
"Even if we cannot add new beds immediately, we are reallocating beds from other departments for measles patients."
Prof Dr Mahbubul Alam, director of Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute, said space constraints were preventing a rapid expansion of capacity.
"We have 70 dedicated measles beds, but 82 patients are currently admitted," he said.
"We are trying to allocate paying beds for measles patients so that no one has to be turned away."
At Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, spokesperson Dr Shankar Kumar Biswas said measles patients are generally not refused admission.
"The paediatric ward has a capacity of 200, and more than 140 children with measles are currently admitted. Overall occupancy regularly exceeds capacity."
He added that the hospital had expanded paediatric intensive care unit capacity from 12 beds to 18 and had requested approval for 100 ICU beds from the ministry.
Repeated attempts to contact DGHS Director for Hospitals and Clinics Dr Abu Hussain Md Moinul Ahsan for comment went unanswered.
According to the latest health bulletin, Bangladesh has 171,675 hospital beds across public and private facilities, including 71,660 in government hospitals.
Government hospitals have more than 1,600 ICU beds.
A 2022 survey titled Critical Care Bed Capacity of Bangladesh: A Pre and Post COVID-19 Pandemic Survey found that the country had 2,856 ICU beds in total across public and private hospitals.
With a population of about 173 million, Bangladesh has roughly one hospital bed for every 1,000 people and one ICU bed for more than 60,000 people.
The National Electro Medical Equipment Maintenance Workshop and Training Centre collects data on ICU beds, ventilators and emergency services nationwide.
Jayanta Kumar Mukhapadhaya, its chief technical manager, said government hospitals currently have around 1,620 ICU beds.
A Public Health Institute official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a post-COVID project to expand ICU capacity at district hospitals stalled after being implemented at only a few facilities.
Dedicated children's hospitals built at divisional level also remain non-operational due to staffing shortages.
Public health expert Mohammad Mushtuq Husain said increasing bed numbers alone would not solve the crisis.
"All related facilities must be expanded, and more hospitals need to admit measles patients," he said.
He criticised the government's reactive approach.
"Bangladesh has strong systems for tackling natural disasters, but not for health emergencies. We still have not learned from COVID how to respond to an epidemic swiftly, spend funds efficiently, and prevent corruption."
