Many Changes are Taking Place

Islamia, as it has been known for over 50 years, is the largest multispecialty eye hospital in Bangladesh. The emphasis is on quality eye care for all socio-economic sections of society. The treatment for every patient is of the same quality, though the facilities vary according to the choice the patient makes. There are general facilities at very low cost, as well as private facilities, which are more comfortable and upscale.

Mr. M.A. Ispahani, when he founded the hospital, wanted to ensure that facilities were available for those who cannot afford to pay. This is one of the underlying tenets of the hospital, and these patients are covered by cross-subsidization – funds from those who pay more go to offset the costs of treating the poor.

 Major Changes are Taking Place:

OPENING OF OPERATING THEATRE COMPLEX

The New state-of-the-art Operating Theatre Complex consists of 15,000 sq. ft. of space, enabling seventeen surgeons to operate in individual rooms. This complex is focused on patient safety, and has air conditioning with specs that include 24 changes of air in each room each hour; laminar flow; HEPA filters; and humidity control. It also includes the leading make of autoclave and instrument cleaners, imported from Sweden. To support patient safety for all sections of society, especially the poor patients, the Embassy of Japan donated nearly 1 Cr. Taka (US $130,000) to cover the costs of this equipment.

The "official" opening took place on Saturday, 23rd February, 2013, where the Chief Guest, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, Founder and Chairman of BRAC, and the Special Guest, His Excellency, Mr. Shiro Sadoshima, Ambassador of Japan, officially opened the complex.

Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, Founder and Chairman of BRAC, Mrs. Zahida Ispahani, Mr. Behrouze Ispahani and His Excellency, Shiro Sadoshima, Ambassador of Japan.

Opening of the Operating Theatres by the Doctors and Staff

The Operating Theatre Complex was opened in two phases: the first by the Doctors, Nurses and staff of the hospital. This event took place on 18th February, 2013.

OPENING OF THE PRIVATE OUTPATIENT'S WAITING AREA

The official opening of the Private Waiting Room took place on Thursday, 31st January, 2013. The ribbon was cut by Dr. M.A. Majid Khan, Director of Medical Services, who has been the driving force behind the establishment of the Private Wing.

The main concepts of the Private Wing are two-fold:

1. To provide top-class facilities and service to those who are willing to pay slightly more for their care.

2. To use these funds to cover the expenses of those who do not have funds to pay for their sight-restoring surgery. 

The Private Wing will include all specialties - Comprehensive Ophthalmology, Cornea, Retina, Paediatric Ophthalmology, Glaucoma, Oculoplasty and Neuro-ophthalmology.

Preferably, patients should call to make an appointment. Please phone 09610998333 between 8 AM and 7 PM.

 

Other major changes at Ispahani Islamia Eye Institute and Hospital 

1. Developing Islamia into a Centre of Excellence - with Full-time Surgeons

In September, 2010, a new system was implemented at Ispahani Islamia Eye Institute and Hospital. A group of eight highly qualified consultants became totally dedicated to the care of patients at this hospital. They gave up their private practice and agreed to work long hours solely to build up Islamia into an institute of international repute. This group has now expanded to seventeen consultants, and as the fellows (trainee consultants) complete their training at L V Prasad Eye Institute at Hyderabad, India, they join this select group of expert ophthalmologists.

2. Upgrading the Facilities

To achieve the objectives of self-sufficiency and cross-subsidization, the facilities are being upgraded and modernized, especially in those areas where we serve the more sophisticated patients.

• A new Private Outpatients Wing and a new Private Ward.  The new private patient outpatients covers over 9,000 sq. ft. of space. There are now 15 examination rooms, each fully equipped and air-conditioned. It also has a diagnostic area, a pre-operative examination area, and a separate Private Waiting Room. 

 

• A new Operation Theatre Suite is over 15,000 square feet, and consists of ten new operation theatres. Together with the third currently-existing operation theatre wing, there will be a total of 17 surgical areas. The complex includes a pre-operative waiting area, post-operative recovery areas, an operation theatre store, and a Central Sterilization Department with the most modern of autoclaves and sterilizing equipment. New anaesthetic and monitoring machines with a central gas supply is also included. The whole area is centrally air conditioned, and each theatre has a laminar flow air system and HEPA filters to meet or exceed international standards.

• New Electrical System: The original wiring has been replaced throughout the hospital with state-of-the-art electrical equipment. To meet the present and future needs, two large 400 kVA generators have been installed, together with a new 1000 kVA substation. 

• New General Ward: A section of the hospital has been remodeled to provide a clean and welcoming environment for the general patients who need to stay in the hospital.

• A new Outpatients for Oculoplasty and Glaucoma was opened in 2012 and consists of eight examination rooms, a Humphrey Visual Field Analyser, and a Yag laser room. To provide space for the many patients of these departments, the former auditorium has been converted into a waiting hall.

• A Guesthouse has been built for visitors and trainee doctors from other regions and countries. It consists of four rooms and a communal space. Already, a number of trainee surgeon ophthalmologists from China have been accommodated in this new facility.

• New parking facility. A large parking space has been developed and landscaped close to the Private outpatients department.

3. New Management Team
Around the year 2003, Mrs. Zahida Ispahani was asked to become the Advisor to the management of the hospital. Since then she has dedicated herself to building the hospital into an institute of excellence. As part of this development, she has been able to attract a management team of superior capability. This team consists of:

• Dr. Steven Roy MD, MBA, who was recruited by Mrs. Ispahani as CEO, and appointed by the Management Committee in March, 2011. He has had leadership experience in four organizations, both in the US and in India, including a successful turn-around of an eye hospital in Delhi.

• Dr. Alamgir Hossain has worked in the non-profit sector in Bangladesh for over thirty years, and is known throughout the Bangladesh ophthalmology community as a leader in the field of the development of rural eye-care. He was the leader of the successful Sightsavers project ‘Bangladesh Childhood Cataract Campaign’ from 2004 to 2010. After completing this project, he joined Islamia as a Management Consultant in charge of the Branch Hospitals, as well as being on the leadership team of the hospital.

• Dr. Majid Khan continues on as Director, Medical Services.

• Mr. Bejoy Saha has been promoted to Director, Human Resource Development. 

• In December, 2011, Prof. Sarwar Alam, part-time head of the Cornea Department, joined as a full-time member of the Centre of Excellence, and was appointed as Director, Department of Education. 

4. Upgrading of the Patient Care Systems
Our nurses have been undergoing training by the AK Khan Healthcare Foundation, a course using the syllabus from “The Consortium of Harvard Affiliated Hospital Nursing Services”. There have also been workshops and classes on improving the patient-employee interaction, focusing on our motto: "The needs of the patient must come first."

5. Change of Name and Logo
At the end of 2011, the name of the hospital changed from Islamia Eye Hospital to Ispahani Islamia Eye Institute and Hospital. This change stresses, in particular, that we are an Institute, not just a hospital. Together with the name change, there is a new logo and letterhead, which can be seen above.