Catholic Hospital in Dhaka Expands Care with New ICU and HDU

For Muslim Mohammad Nadim and his family, St. John Vianney Hospital in Dhaka has long been a place of healing and reassurance in times of sickness.

“The treatment at St. John Vianney Hospital is good. My family members and I regularly receive treatment from this hospital,” Nadim told RVA News.

Located in Farmgate, Tejgaon, one of Dhaka’s busiest and most densely populated areas, St. John Vianney Hospital has now taken a significant step forward in strengthening its healthcare services. The Catholic-run hospital recently added an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and a High Dependency Unit (HDU), expanding its capacity to provide critical and life-saving care to patients in Bangladesh’s capital.

Operated under the Archdiocese of Dhaka, St. John Vianney Hospital is one of two hospitals and 14 dispensaries run by the archdiocese.

Since its establishment in 2019, the hospital has steadily earned the trust of surrounding communities, the majority of whom are Muslim.

The formal inauguration of the ICU and HDU units was held on March 16, 2026. Apostolic Nuncio to Bangladesh Archbishop Kevin Stuart Randall attended the event as chief guest.

Archbishop Bejoy N. D’Cruze, OMI, of Dhaka, also president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Bangladesh, and Auxiliary Bishop Subrata B. Gomes of Dhaka were present as special guests. Members of the hospital’s governing body, board of directors, and administrative and medical staff also joined the program.

In their remarks, church leaders emphasized the crucial role of intensive and high-dependency care units in modern medicine. Archbishop Bejoy D’Cruze described ICU and HDU services as essential components of a well-functioning hospital.

“These units are very important and necessary for a hospital to keep patients alive,” he said. “I hope that through these facilities, patients in our hospital will receive better and more effective care.”

Bishop Subrata Gomes reflected on the hospital’s deeper mission of service and healing, rooted in the Gospel.

“Jesus healed people, and since its inception this hospital has been providing service and healing to everyone, regardless of race, religion or color,” he said. “Through this hospital, the work of spreading the word of God is also taking place, as people experience love and compassion through care.”

He added that the opening of the ICU and HDU would further improve treatment outcomes and strengthen the hospital’s role as a center of hope for patients and families.

For many patients, particularly those who relied on the hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic, the expansion represents renewed hope.

St. John Vianney Hospital provides comprehensive medical services, including emergency, outpatient and inpatient care, as well as specialized departments such as gynecology, pediatrics, cardiology and surgery. The hospital also offers diagnostic services, dialysis, physiotherapy, pharmacy and dental care, making it a multidisciplinary healthcare facility.

Specialist doctors are available every morning and afternoon, while emergency services operate around the clock. Importantly, the hospital maintains low treatment costs, making healthcare accessible to people from lower- and middle-income families. While consultation fees at many private hospitals in Dhaka range from 1,500 to 2,000 taka, St. John Vianney Hospital charges only 600 taka. Patients can also consult a medical officer in the emergency unit for 200 taka.

With only 20 beds, the hospital operates on a modest scale, yet its impact extends far beyond its size.

Approximately 90 percent of its patients come from Muslim families, highlighting the Catholic Church’s commitment to serving people of all faiths.

Hospital authorities believe the addition of ICU and HDU services will allow patients with critical conditions to receive timely care closer to home, reducing referrals to overcrowded tertiary hospitals elsewhere in the city.