The construction of an international standard and modern 150-bed specialized burn unit of at Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) is expected to begin in July next with Chinese funding.
“We have been trying to begin the construction works of the 150-bed hospital at a cost of around Taka 181 crores within July this year,” said Brigadier General Shamim Ahsan, Director of the CMCH.
The burn unit will be constructed at the proposed site on the north side of the main dormitory of the CMCH on Chatteswari Road in the city.
It will have one outdoor department, one indoor department, one emergency department, 10 ICU beds,10 HDU beds for men, 10 HDU beds for women and five HDU beds for the children.
All types of medical equipment and furniture required for this unit will be provided by the Chinese government as grant.
Brigadier Shamim Ahsan told BSS that the China will invest Tk 181 crore in this project. He hoped that the construction works will start in July.
“It will take 24 months from the start of work to be completed. This specialized burn unit will have all modern facilities.
We will only build access roads and security walls surrounding the hospital,” he added.
Shamim Ahsan said, a delegation from the Ministry of Finance of the Chinese government had arrived a few days ago. They checked the designated site and found it is ready for construction.
The design has also been prepared accordingly.
Earlier, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Samanta Lal Sen announced on January 27 that the construction work of the Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit in Chattogram will start soon.
He was also involved with this specialized hospital construction project before getting the responsibility of the minister.
Shamim Ahsan said, the Chinese experts have been working relentlessly for beginning the construction works as soon as possible.
Earlier, an agreement between the Chinese Government and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare was signed in this regard.
The land selected by the visiting Chinese team have already been cleared which was occupied by some influential people illegally.
“Over an area of 36,000 square feet of land should be handed over to the Chinese team,” he said.
“The Chinese government is interested to construct the specialized burn unit on a six-storey building of 96,000 square feet having 16000 square feet in each floor,” Shamim Ahsan said.
The unit will contain 10 ICU and 25 HDU.
The specialized burn unit will be used as a referral hospital for four crore people of the Chattogram Division for burn and plastic surgery.
The proposed specialized unit is expected to facilitate the treatment of burn patients from nine districts of Chattogram Division, which is home to some four crore people.
At present, they largely depend on the 26-bed burn unit of the CMCH.
The specialized burn unit will have infection control measures, dedicated operation theatres and ICUs, which, in conjunction, will be able to provide international-quality services.
According to the DPP, China will provide 118 million yuan (around Tk180 crore) and Bangladesh government has already allocated Tk 51.22 crore for the project.
The proposal also sought approval of 1,065 manpower for a self-contained 150-bed unit with advanced treatment facilities for burn victims on 3,500 square metres of land of the Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH).
The proposal has already been sent to the health directorate for approval. As per the contract, the project duration is 22 months.