Rajshahi:In the past two years, the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute in Rajshahi has provided cardiac treatment services to 25,575 patients through its outdoor and indoor departments.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, during this period, approximately Tk 2.90 crore in financial assistance or discounts were given to support the treatment of poor, helpless, and destitute patients. This information was disclosed at the Annual General Meeting of the National Heart Foundation Rajshahi held on Monday.
The foundation, under a development project initiated in July 2018, has been operating from a 5-storey building with a 10-storey foundation. In the last 24 months, medical services have been offered to 20,933 outdoor patients and 4,942 indoor patients. The hospital has also achieved significant success in interventional treatments such as angiogram, angioplasty, and pacemaker implantation through its cath lab services.
The hospital conducts regular free heart camps and distributes free medicines, supported by Zakat funds, for poor patients. A development project proposal of about Tk 23 crore has been submitted to the Health Services Division to expand the hospital's services and establish a full-fledged 'Open Heart Surgery Unit.' Additionally, a vertical expansion project worth approximately Tk 38 crore is underway to transform the hospital into a 200-bed facility.
An application has been made to the Deputy Commissioner for 3 acres of khas land for future expansion, including the establishment of a second unit, Research Institute, and Nursing Institute/College. At the meeting, speakers emphasized improving medical service quality, increasing infrastructural capacity, and expanding services for heart patients, including the addition of an open-heart surgery unit.
The meeting, addressed by Chief Consultant and Director Professor Dr. Rais Uddin and Director (Administration and Finance) Professor Md. Habibur Rahman, highlighted the importance of collecting donations and Zakat funds to aid poor and helpless patients. On this occasion, approximately 700 patients received free diabetes and ECG tests and medical services, including medicines, in a day-long free heart camp.