Transforming healthcare: How Parisha Shamim is redefining patient care at Labaid

Parisha Shamim, executive director of Labaid Cardiac and Specialized Hospitals in Dhaka, believes a hospital should be a place of empathy, care, and compassion – not just medicine and treatment. With a degree in architecture from BRAC University and a master's in Global Healthcare Leadership from Oxford's Saïd Business School, she combines creativity with strategic leadership.

As the daughter of Labaid Group Managing Director Dr AM Shamim, Parisha began her journey at Labaid as a management trainee while still a university student. Since then, she has worked to transform the non-clinical aspects of care – focusing on food, hospitality, emotional wellness, empathy, and human-centred design.

The turning point: From expired sugar sachets to therapeutic nutrition

"My first challenge from my father was the hospital kitchen," Parisha recalls. During an inspection, consumer rights officials found two expired sugar sachets. "I took responsibility and said, 'This is my fault.' That moment changed everything for me."

She then led the creation of a 3,500 sq-ft central kitchen built to European standards, fully focused on preparing patient meals. Everything was redesigned – from food trolleys to hygiene. "Hospital food isn't just boiled rice and mashed potatoes. Each patient has specific health and dietary needs. So, we hired six professional nutritionists and created therapeutic menus."

The outcome is a food service that feels like five-star hospitality. Patients receive customised meal baskets based on their diet and preferences. When they leave the hospital, they're given a sugar-free cupcake – a small celebration of their health.

Designing wellness: From hospital kitchens to garden bistros

Parisha's design ideas went beyond food. "Hospitals are places of pain and fear. But why can't they also bring comfort, beauty, and hope?" she asked.

Her answer was The Garden Bistro – a rooftop space created for doctors, nurses, and staff. With imported equipment, a carefully designed menu, and lots of greenery, it became a peaceful escape from daily stress.

"The staff were tired and stressed. No one smiled," she said. "I started telling them: Smile for the patients. And keep smiling even when I'm not around."

Wellness Café: A cup of comfort for all

The idea for the café started on the street. Parisha once saw a patient holding hospital files and eating a greasy singara by the roadside. It left her upset. "Why should a sick patient eat oily snacks with no nutrition? We need to offer something better," she thought.

This led to the creation of the Wellness Café – a local brand offering clean, healthy food designed to support medical needs. "We serve milk-based desserts that are safe for diabetics. Our juices come from our own farms. It's truly a farm-to-hospital bed."

Parisha even trained at the London Coffee Academy to ensure Labaid's coffee corners meet international standards.

The next frontier: Mental health, libraries, and empathy

This July, Labaid is opening a Mental Health Centre – not just for patients, but also for doctors, nurses, and even non-clinical staff. "We all carry emotional weight. A security guard may need to talk too. This centre is for everyone," Parisha says.

The centre will offer three free services – patient counselling, professional counselling, and personal counselling – all run by trained mental health experts.

She is also working on two unique projects: a hospital library – a calm, welcoming space where patients, doctors, and staff can read and relax; and a biannual art workshop, where patients express their emotions through painting. "A C-section patient and a cancer patient see the world differently. I want to show those perspectives on our hospital walls."

Healthcare is a commitment

For Parisha, healthcare leadership is more than titles or systems – it's about understanding how patients feel. "From the outside, everything looks impressive – SOPs, dashboards, marketing. But lie in a hospital bed once, and you'll know what true helplessness means."

This empathy guides everything she does, from using biodegradable food packaging to teaching patients about calories and how far they should walk. "Healthcare is a commitment. Every step must focus on the patient."

A volunteer movement and the future 

One of her proudest achievements is the Patient Care Bridge, a volunteer program created with State University. Wearing bright orange t-shirts, 36 students from different departments spend six hours a day helping patients – guiding them through the hospital and providing emotional support.

"It's more than just service. It's training in empathy. It's about building community."

Patients are not going to India – an opportunity for Bangladesh

"We try to understand how patients feel. Now, patients are staying in the country for care. The country's money is also staying here. This is a big chance for us. We have a lot of work to do to serve these patients better," Parisha concluded.