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Intensive and critical care unit is a designated area of a hospital facility that is dedicated to the care of patients who are seriously ill. There main function is to provide optimal life support and provide adequate monitoring of vital function. A well-organized intensive and critical care services is one of the indicator of quality of health care. In light of the growing needs and the increase in burden of non-communicable disease and current COVID-19 pandemic, there is a clear gap in critical care capacity of the country. The ICUs are seldomly headed by anesthesiologists, pulmonologists, and critical care specialists as shouldbe due to the limited professionals.
To improve the critical care service there are a number of activities underway.
- Hub and spoke model for mentorship and coaching
- Capacity building and workforce development
- Equipped and standardized ICUs
- Development of guidelines and manuals to ensure quality critical care.