Healthcare gets mega upgrade: New women's, children's hospitals planned

In a push to transform the country's healthcare system, the government has announced a large-scale expansion plan featuring separate specialised hospitals for children and women, upgraded rural healthcare facilities, and expanded medical education infrastructure.

"Under the plan, five 200-bed children's hospitals will be built in divisional cities while 492 upazila health complexes will be upgraded to 101 beds," Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain said today (3 June) at a press briefing at his Secretariat office.

The plan also includes five 1,000-bed women-only hospitals in major cities, new residential facilities for Dhaka Medical College students, and a pilot door-to-door health screening programme at union level aimed at early disease detection.

Children's hospitals in five divisions

The government will establish one 200-bed specialised children's hospital in each of five divisions—Khulna, Barishal, Rangpur, Rajshahi and Cumilla.

Tendering for furniture and medical equipment has already been completed, and the hospitals are expected to be inaugurated within six months.

Each facility will require 1,475 staff. The prime minister has instructed the Public Administration Ministry to ensure full staffing.

A meeting is scheduled for tomorrow (4 June), after which financial approval will be discussed with the Finance Ministry.

Each hospital will include ICU facilities, central air-conditioning, and provisions for future expansion, with large dedicated ICU space.

Upgradation of 492 upazila health complexes

The government has started upgrading 492 upazila health complexes—from 50 beds to 101 beds—across the country. Of 500 upazilas, eight already have 100-bed hospitals.

Additional manpower and infrastructure will be provided under the expansion plan.

Each upazila hospital will also get one male and one female physiotherapist to improve access to rehabilitation services, especially for rural women.

Five 1,000-bed women's hospitals

The government plans to build five 1,000-bed specialised hospitals exclusively for women in major cities.

According to the minister, the hospitals are expected to be developed through joint financing by Bangladesh and China.

"Construction is expected to begin within the current fiscal," he said.

New infrastructure at Dhaka Medical, Mitford Hospital

New residential buildings will be constructed at Dhaka Medical College Hospital at a cost exceeding Tk1,100 crore to improve accommodation for doctors, students and healthcare workers.

The project, prepared by the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, will include one or two new buildings depending on requirements.

Tenders will be floated soon, with construction expected to start shortly.

The prime minister is expected to visit the site in July to formally announce the project.

The minister also flagged concerns over ageing infrastructure at Mitford Hospital, saying some buildings are in critical condition.

He said illegal occupants are being evicted and new hospital infrastructure will be developed.

Separately, the new building of the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital is set to be inaugurated on 15 August, after which full services will begin.

China to build 1,000-bed hospital in Sylhet

Chinese investors have already shown interest in a proposed 1,000-bed hospital in Sylhet and conducted site inspections, including areas in Companiganj such as Bholaganj Sadapathar and the Hi-Tech Park.

Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury and local officials accompanied the delegation during the visit today.

Steward Cheung, chairman of Bai Up Investment Limited, who led the Chinese delegation, said they were satisfied with the initial feasibility assessment.

Union-level health screening pilot

A door-to-door health screening programme will be launched following discussions with Japanese medical researchers. In the first phase, the pilot will cover one union each in six to ten upazilas, before nationwide expansion if successful.

Around 100,000 health workers are expected to be recruited to support data collection and digital reporting through a mobile app.