Full-fledged healthcare services are expected to begin soon at the new 500-bed building of the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital in the city’s Agargaon area.
Although the building has already been formally inaugurated following the completion of construction work, full-fledged services have yet to begin due to a shortage of manpower.
Currently, around 50% of the building’s facilities are operational, while preparations to make it fully functional are underway.
During a visit to the hospital, it was observed that limited outpatient services are being provided on the first and second floors.
CT scan, MRI and X-ray services are operational. In addition, the catheterisation laboratory (Cath Lab), post-operative care and academic activities have also started on a limited scale.
However, the modern facility cannot be fully utilised due to a shortage of the required doctors, nurses, officers, employees and technical personnel.
The new building has 500 beds, 40 ICU beds, 20 high-dependency unit (HDU) beds, 112 cabins, two MRI machines and two CT scan machines, along with modern medical equipment.
The National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital is one of the country’s leading specialised institutions for neurological treatment.
Every day, thousands of patients from different districts and upazilas across the country come here for treatment of various complex neurological conditions, including stroke, brain injuries, spinal disorders, Parkinson’s disease, dementia and epilepsy.
However, due to a shortage of beds, many patients have to wait for a long time to get admitted.
Hospital Director Professor Dr Mohammad Nuruzzaman Khan told BSS, “We have a manpower shortage. However, manpower will be recruited very soon. Once the recruitment is completed, patients will receive full-fledged services at the hospital.”
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the building on August 15 this year. The 15-storey building, constructed at a cost of around Tk506 crore, aims to provide improved healthcare services to patients suffering from neurological diseases.
According to hospital authorities, the institution has a total of 649 approved posts for doctors, of which 288 are currently occupied, leaving 361 vacant. This means more than half of the approved posts remain vacant.
Meanwhile, against 864 approved posts in the nursing department, 678 nurses are currently working, while 186 posts remain vacant. Altogether, 547 posts for doctors and nurses are vacant.
An additional 800 to 1,000 doctors, nurses, technologists and other employees are required to make the new 500-bed building fully operational.
According to the hospital’s patient service statistics for the 2025-26 fiscal year, a total of 813,098 patients received treatment at its outpatient department during the period.
At the same time, 18,789 patients were admitted to the hospital, while 31,293 patients received treatment at the emergency department.
The National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital began its journey in 2012 with 300 beds. Later, its capacity was expanded by adding another 200 beds. Over the past decade, the number of neurological patients and demand for treatment have continued to increase, prompting initiatives to further expand the hospital’s capacity.
As part of the expansion, the new 500-bed building was constructed. Once fully operational, the hospital’s total bed capacity will increase to 1,000.
Rashidul Islam, from Begumganj upazila of Noakhali, has come to the Neurosciences Hospital for an operation to remove a brain tumour. He was referred to the hospital from Noakhali General Hospital.
Talking to his brother Rabiul Islam in front of the hospital’s outpatient department, he said doctors had detected a brain tumour in his elder brother and advised an early operation.
“But we cannot find an available bed here, so my brother cannot be admitted,” he said, adding that they had been staying in a rented house near the hospital for the past four days.
An associate professor at the hospital, wishing not to be named, said, “Expanding healthcare services does not mean merely constructing buildings. What is the benefit of constructing large buildings if there are no doctors and nurses?
“So, the government should recruit doctors and other manpower before constructing buildings. This would prevent modern 500-bed buildings like this from remaining underutilised.”
Talking to hospital officials about the manpower situation, it was learnt that the total number of approved posts for doctors, nurses, officers and employees is 2,728. Of these, 1,619 are currently occupied.
The hospital has 27 professor posts, of which eight are occupied and 19 remain vacant. Of the 45 associate professor posts, 16 are occupied and 29 are vacant. Among the 86 assistant professor posts, 23 are occupied, leaving 63 vacant.
Of the eight senior consultant posts, six are vacant, while 13 of the 25 junior consultant posts remain vacant. In addition, 111 of the 151 indoor medical officer posts are vacant.
An analysis of the manpower situation in the nursing services department shows that all three posts of deputy nursing superintendent are vacant. Of the 20 nursing supervisor posts, 13 remain vacant.
Against 840 approved senior staff nurse posts, 669 are occupied, leaving 171 vacant.
Besides, the hospital has 1,215 outsourced staff positions, of which 656 are currently occupied and 559 remain vacant.
Hospital Director Professor Dr Mohammad Nuruzzaman Khan said the institution is currently facing a manpower crisis.
“Manpower recruitment should have been completed by now. However, the recruitment process is being delayed because the government is changing the recruitment policy for government jobs. We hope to publish the recruitment circular within the next two to three weeks. We are making all necessary preparations. As soon as we receive the recruitment policy, we will issue the circular,” he said.
The director said that the process of recruiting manpower through outsourcing was also underway.
“We hope to make the new building operational soon. Patients will benefit from all the facilities of the new building,” he added.
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