Hossainpur upazila in Kishoreganj’s resident Md Abu Shamim works at a garment factory in Dhaka. A month ago, he was severely injured in a road accident as a truck hit him while crossing the road in the Airport area. Rescuers initially admitted him to a local private medical facility. Later, he was transferred for surgery to the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedic Rehabilitation (NITOR), most commonly known as the Pangu Hospital. His injuries were so severe that one of his legs had to be amputated. Shamim has been hospitalized there for 26 days.

As the country’s only specialized orthopedic and trauma hospital, NITOR receives critically injured patients from across Bangladesh daily. Most patients require surgical intervention. NITOR performs the highest number of critical and general surgeries among specialized hospitals, conducting approximately 4,500 operations per month.

According to physicians, the lack of specialized hospitals at the district and upazila levels contributes to the heavy patient load at NITOR. Moreover, orthopedic departments in other hospitals often lack comprehensive treatment facilities.

Data from the Directorate General of Health Services’ Health Bulletin shows that in 2023, NITOR performed 46,075 surgeries, including 25,771 critical operations and 20,304 general ones. That year, 31,236 patients received inpatient services while 78,569 were treated in the emergency department and 247,660 sought outpatient care. However, both the number of patients and surgeries have increased this year. During the student protests in July and August, a significant number of injured individuals received treatment at the hospital. Currently, about 94 of them remain admitted.

Hospital authorities reported that the 1,000-bed facility includes 200 beds in the emergency department and employs approximately 350 physicians. Of its 29 operating theaters, 28 are currently operational, handling between 3,500 and 4,500 surgeries monthly.

A young man from Mymensingh, who wished to remain anonymous, recently brought his elderly mother to NITOR. She had been suffering from a long-term joint issue in her hand. Although doctors advised surgery about six months ago, the family could not admit her earlier due to the lack of available beds. Recently, she found space on the emergency department floor.

Acting Director of the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedic Rehabilitation (NITOR), Dr. Md Abul Kenan, told Bonik Barta, “Primary, secondary, or district-level hospitals lack comprehensive surgical facilities and face staff shortages. As a result, critically ill patients from these facilities are sent to us. We try our best to provide maximum service within our capacity. However, if the number of emergency beds and staff could be increased, we would be able to serve more patients and reduce some of the complaints they have.”

Highlighting the need for an additional unit at NITOR, Dr. Kenan added, “There is significant trust in this hospital, which is why so many patients come here. We cannot turn anyone away; we have to accommodate everyone. However, the discharge rate of patients is lower compared to the rate of new admissions, meaning we cannot provide beds for everyone. Many patients are accommodated on the floor. I believe adding another unit to NITOR along with increasing staff and equipment is essential.”

NITOR currently lacks sufficient MRI, CT scan, and physiotherapy machines. Hospital authorities expressed hope that increasing these resources would enable the facility to treat more patients and expedite care. Md Nazrul Islam, in charge of the physiotherapy department, said, “We currently have seven to eight therapy machines, but we need 10 to 12. We have communicated with the Ministry of Health regarding increasing such equipment.”

Among specialized hospitals, the highest number of surgeries following NITOR are performed at Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Eye Hospital and Training Institute (30,881 surgeries), Kurmitola General Hospital (23,019), the National Institute of Ophthalmology (21,438), and the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (20,457).