The High Court on Monday wanted to know the detailed numbers of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds at the hospitals in the country and the distribution process of the ICU beds.
The bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim wanted to know the details of ICU beds after virtual hearing on a writ petition.
The HC also wanted to know steps taken centrally for providing advice to the patients infected with Covid-19. It asked the authorities concerned of the state to inform the court about those above information within Wednesday.
Sheikh Abdullah Al Mamun, deputy registrar of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), filed a writ petition with the High Court on Saturday seeking formation of ‘ICU bed acquisition’ and ‘Central Bed Bureau’ through online amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Advocate Yeadia Zaman stood for the petitioner while additional attorney general Murad Reza represented the state.
Additional Attorney General Murad Reza said the HC wanted to know information about the numbers of ICU beds and steps taken centrally about providing advice and monitoring the patients infected with coronavirus.
Besides, the HC also expressed its surprise about reports published that patients with coronavirus symptoms are not getting proper health services after visiting different hospitals across the country, said Advocate Yeadia Zaman.
According to media reports, there are 1,169 ICU beds at hospitals across the country. Of these, 432 are available at government hospitals while the rest at private hospitals.
Besides, reports were also come from different media that Covid-19 patients are not getting admission after visiting different hospitals.
In this situation, a writ petition was filed with the HC seeking formation of ‘ICU bed acquisition’ under the Disaster Management Act and Central Bed Bureau through online, said Yeadia Zaman.
How many ICU bed are now vacant and where every ICU bed are filled up will be known through the central bed bureau, said Yeadia.
Secretaries to the Health Ministry, Planning Ministry and deputy commissioners concerned of Dhaka, Chattogram and others concerned were made respondents.
Bangladesh on Monday recorded the highest single-day coronavirus deaths for the second consecutive day as 42 more patients died in the span of 24 hours raising the death toll to 930.
The number of total COVID-19 patients also surged to 68,504 as health authorities confirmed the detection of 2,735 new cases during the same period.UNB
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