Dhaka, June 10 (V7N) — The National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar is currently facing a severe bed shortage. Although patients are being admitted through the emergency department, the hospital is struggling to provide them with beds due to overcrowding.

One of the reasons behind this crisis is the presence of patients who have been officially discharged but are still occupying hospital beds. Authorities have expressed frustration over the situation, saying that many of these patients no longer require inpatient care but are refusing to vacate their spots.

Among the affected patients is Anwar Hossain, who arrived from Tangail after sustaining a serious eye injury when a local man hit him with a bamboo stick on Eid day. Despite being admitted, Anwar complained that he was not provided with a bed due to the shortage.

A hospital expert committee recently recommended the discharge of 30 injured individuals from the July incidents who no longer need hospital treatment. However, these patients continue to occupy beds in B Block on the 4th floor, further worsening the crisis for other patients seeking care.

Acting Director of the National Institute of Ophthalmology, Dr. Jane Alam, said, “We have advised follow-up treatments at various levels for those patients. But if they continue to occupy general beds, it’s impossible to accommodate other emergency patients.”

When reporters visited the ward to speak with the patients, they found the area locked from the inside. Hospital authorities reported that of the 54 injured, only 4 or 5 were inside at the time, while the rest had reportedly gone home for Eid.

Dr. Alam added that many of those still occupying beds claimed they could not return home every day due to the long distances involved, making it difficult to vacate the hospital entirely.

Addressing the situation, the Director of Hospitals at the Directorate General of Health Services said, “It is the Eid holiday, so some of the injured may have locked the block from the inside for security. After the holiday, the ministry will sit with all concerned parties to resolve the issue.”

Hospital authorities said the National Institute of Ophthalmology is expected to resume full operations on Saturday.

END/MSS/AJ