DHAKA, Oct 11, 2025 (BSS) - Medical services for neurological patients in the country are set to expand further as a new 500-bed building of the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital (NINS) in the capital is expected to open this month.

Construction of the new building has been completed, along with the installation of most medical equipment. If everything goes as planned, the 500-bed facility will be inaugurated within this month, bringing the hospital's total capacity to 1,000 beds. With this expansion, NINS will become one of the largest specialized neurological treatment centers in the country.

The 15-storey building includes three basement floors for parking and service sections, while the upper 12 floors will house wards, operation theatres, and diagnostic units.

According to hospital sources, most of the patients admitted to NINS are stroke patients, followed by accident victims suffering from brain and spinal injuries. The hospital also treats patients with Parkinson's disease, dementia, Guillain-Barr‚ syndrome (GBS), epilepsy, hydrocephalus, and other neurological disorders. People of all ages-from children to the elderly-receive neurological treatment here.

A spot visit to the newly constructed NINS Unit-2 revealed that the 15-storey facility, including three basement levels, is equipped with a full central air-conditioning system-the first of its kind in any public hospital in the country.

The building also includes a specialized 100-bed trauma unit for road and workplace accident victims, with round-the-clock operation theatre (OT) facilities. Of the four OTs, two are modular operating theatres-German-technology facilities designed to maintain a sterile, controlled environment to minimize infection risks during surgeries.

NINS Director Professor Dr Kazi Gias Uddin Ahmed told BSS that construction of the new 15-storey building has been completed. "We expect to inaugurate it this month, though the exact date is yet to be finalized. Once opened, 500 more beds will be added to the hospital," he said.

"Currently, due to a shortage of beds, we often have to turn away many patients. With the new building, we will be able to accommodate and treat a larger number of patients. Currently, the hospital has 20 beds in ICU and HDU. The number of ICU and HDU beds will also be increased," he added.

NINS Assistant Professor Dr Humayun Kabir Himu said the hospital's outpatient department serves around 4,000 to 5,000 patients daily. "Among them, 125-150 patients require admission, but due to limited space, only 20-25 can be admitted. The new 500-bed facility will greatly enhance our capacity to serve more patients," he said.

He added that with a total of 1,000 beds, NINS will become the largest neuro hospital in South Asia. "A 100-bed dedicated trauma unit is being set up to treat accident victims with head and body injuries. Many stroke patients currently cannot undergo advanced mechanical thrombectomy due to lack of space and must be referred elsewhere. The new facility will allow us to provide that treatment here," he noted.

The National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital was established in Agargaon, Dhaka, in 2012 with 300 beds. Later, 200 more beds were added to cope with the growing patient load. With the upcoming expansion, another 500 beds are being included to meet the rising demand for neurological care.