Central Police Hospital physicians relatively less affected by virus

Though Rajarbagh Central Police Hospital (CPH) has been providing treatment to more than four times COVID-19 patients beyond its capacity, the number of infected physicians of the hospital is very low due to strict protective measures.

CPH is the top hospital of Bangladesh Police. From this hospital policemen and their family members get modern medical treatment and medicine.

It was established in 1954 and was upgraded from 70 beds to 250 beds in 1997-2005 under a project titled 'Modernisation of Bangladesh Police Hospitals'.

CPH deputy director Md Emdadul Hoque, SP, told UNB that the hospital has been giving treatment to COVID-19 patients maintaining international rules and regulations. High quality Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and other protective gears have been provided for its physicians, nurses and health staff from the very beginning.

"The number of coronavirus infected physicians, nurses and health staff are very few compared to other designated hospitals due to supply of adequate number of international standard PPPs," he said.

Replying to a question, Md Emdadul Hoque said currently the hospital has been giving treatment to over 1100 COVID-19 patients.

Among the patients, only 350 are taking treatment at the hospital, while others are taking treatment at temporary isolation centres like Detective Training School (DTS), Traffic Barrack, Siddeshshwary School and College, Hotel Victory and Hotel Capital.

Currently 66 physicians, around 70 nurses and other health staff alongside 150 more physicians from other hospitals have been giving treatment to the COVID-19 patients both in the CPH and other isolation centres.

Replying to another question, Emdad, who is an officer of BCS police cadre 24th Batch, said physicians have been working 8-10 hours maintaining international protocol.

It means a physician will work daily 8-10 hours and will take rest at hotel. After completion of 10-day duty, the physician will go home for 20 days rest by rotation, he added.

He said they need more physicians and nurses to handle the large number of COVID-19 patients and hoped that the hospital will get more physicians and nurses as the government has already recruited over 2000 new doctors and 5000 nurses.

Emdad further said Bangladesh Police has already hired Impulse Hospital in the capital for the treatment of coronavirus-infected police members.

He said the 250-bed hospital will treat only police members infected with coronavirus. “We have already shifted 100 patients from our isolation centre to the hospital on Saturday and more patients will be transferred there in phases,” he added.

Replying to another question, he said around 70-80 police members will be released from CPH on Sunday as they recovered.

Assistant Inspector General (AIG-media) of police headquarters Md. Sohel Rana said special teams have been formed at various police units at the directive of the IGP Benazir Ahmed to look after physical situation of corona-affected policemen.

Bangladesh police is fighting amid risk to ensure the safety of people in the ongoing fight against coronavirus. Seven policemen have already sacrificed their lives, the AIG (media) said.

A total of 1,878 policemen were infected with virus as of Tuesday while performing their duties during the pandemic. Of them, 865 are from Dhaka Metropolitan Police.