Govt finalising project design to upgrade all upazila health complexes to 101 beds: Muhit
The government also plans to raise health spending to 5% of GDP over the next five years and establish five specialised children’s hospitals in divisional cities.
The government is finalising the design and feasibility study for a mega project to upgrade all upazila health complexes across the country into 101-bed hospitals, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr MA Muhit said today (1 August).
Speaking as the chief guest at an exchange meeting at the Chattogram Medical College auditorium, he said the project aims to expand healthcare services at the upazila level, where most of the country's people receive primary treatment.
Around 75% of the country's population lives in rural areas and relies primarily on upazila health complexes for healthcare, he said, adding that many services now available only at district hospitals would be introduced at the upgraded 101-bed facilities.
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"We have set a target of increasing health sector spending from 1% to 5% of GDP over the next five years. We have also taken initiatives to establish five specialised children's hospitals in five divisional cities and a dedicated institute for women's health," Muhit said.
He also said urban healthcare services are being reorganised after being brought under the health ministry from the city corporations.
Referring to past irregularities, the state minister said medical equipment worth hundreds of crores of taka had been purchased without proper planning, with much of it remaining unused at healthcare facilities across the country.
"Through coordinated planning, we will stop this waste," he added.
As an initial measure to improve doctors' safety, he mentioned that 10 members of the Ansar force have been deployed at each upazila health complex.
