Special field hospital at DMCH yet to become operational amid measles outbreak

Despite a rising number of child deaths and complications caused by measles across the country, the special field hospital built on the premises of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) is still not operational.

The 20-bed specialised field hospital, constructed with support from the Bangladesh Army, completed its structural work around 10 to 15 days ago, according to sources concerned. However, patient admission and treatment services have yet to begin.

Public health experts said that although measles infections have reached an alarming level nationwide, the delay in launching the prepared hospital raises questions about the effectiveness of the health sector’s response.

Hospital sources said the field hospital was mainly set up to provide separate treatment and isolation facilities for children infected with measles.

Several doctors at DMCH, speaking anonymously, said pressure on the hospital’s paediatric department has increased sharply in recent weeks, with new measles patients being admitted every day. Due to limited isolation facilities, children suffering from different illnesses are being treated in the same ward, increasing the risk of infection spread.

One doctor said, “Many children are even being treated in corridors. If the field hospital had started operating, at least critically ill patients could have been managed separately.”

However, a doctor and an official at DMCH said the field hospital has not yet been opened because the patient load remains manageable for now.

Speaking to the Daily Sun, the official said that under current government directives, children under one year of age are being treated at Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute, while children above one year are being referred to other designated hospitals. According to him, those hospitals still have vacant beds available.

Asked why the field hospital remains closed, he said, “The patient pressure has not yet reached a level where existing hospitals are unable to cope.”

Responding to concerns over general patients and suspected measles patients being treated together, the official claimed that suspected measles cases are being kept in separate cabins.

“We have separate cabins here. Patients showing measles symptoms are being kept under isolation-type arrangements to reduce the risk of transmission,” he added.

Concern over wider spread of measles

During a visit to DMCH on Tuesday, guardians complained that due to a shortage of beds in the paediatric ward, many patients are being forced to wait for long periods. They also feared that overcrowding and limited space could accelerate the spread of infection.

Sarah, a child admitted from Keraniganj with fever symptoms, was receiving treatment at DMCH. Her father told the Daily Sun, “All kinds of patients are being treated in the same ward. Given the current measles outbreak, we are extremely worried about our daughter. Even children without measles are at risk because measles patients are also being treated here.”

Similar concerns were expressed by the mother of Abir, a child brought from Madhabdi in Narsingdi for treatment of stomach pain. “I’m constantly worried that my son might contract measles here,” she said.

Public health experts stressed that measles is a highly contagious disease, making separate treatment arrangements for infected children essential. According to them, the failure to launch the field hospital despite the infrastructure being ready reflects poor coordination within the healthcare system.

Public health expert Dr Mushtuq Husain said, “Alongside critical patients, non-critical and high-risk children should also be treated under separate isolation arrangements.”

He added, “Because measles is extremely contagious, infected children need to be kept separately. The field hospital built with Army support should be used effectively for this purpose.”

According to him, children from underprivileged families infected with measles but not yet suffering severe complications should be kept at the field hospital.

“This would help prevent the spread of infection while ensuring patients are monitored before their condition becomes critical,” he said.