A severe shortage of ICU beds at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital has led to the deaths of 229 patients within a month, including 91 children, according to hospital sources. To address the crisis, authorities have recently proposed setting up a 100-bed ICU and submitted the plan to the ministry last Sunday.

Currently, the hospital has only 40 ICU beds—12 for children, 16 for elderly patients, and 12 for adults. Due to a surge in measles cases, six additional beds have been temporarily added to the pediatric ICU by reallocating resources.

In March, 119 children were admitted to the pediatric ICU, while 386 were on the waiting list. Among those অপেক্ষing, 91 children died. During the same period, 143 elderly patients were admitted and 302 were অপেক্ষing, with 70 deaths reported. For adult patients, 135 were admitted and 312 were অপেক্ষing, resulting in 68 deaths.

Doctors say the rising spread of measles and pneumonia has led to rapid complications in children, sharply increasing the demand for ICU care.

Hospital spokesperson Shankar K. Biswas stated that steps are being taken to manage the situation, including installing additional oxygen lines. The number of pediatric ICU beds has been increased from 12 to 18, of which 12 are now reserved for measles patients. In the last 24 hours alone, one more child with measles symptoms has died, bringing the total deaths from such symptoms to 43. Currently, 123 children are under treatment, with 18 new admissions reported.

Families of patients have described the desperate situation. A father from Kushtia said his five-month-old daughter, who was 32nd on the ICU waiting list, died before getting a bed. Similar incidents were reported involving other infants who passed away while still in the queue.

Although the hospital officially has 1,200 beds, it treats around 3,500 patients daily, far exceeding its capacity. The demand for pediatric ICU beds has risen sharply—from around 30 per day to nearly 50—due to the recent outbreak of infectious diseases.