All upazila hospitals to get modern pathology labs by this year: Health minister
He also outlines plans to make healthcare more accessible at the grassroots level.
The government will establish modern pathology laboratories in every upazila hospital across the country by the end of this year and begin importing the required equipment this month, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Sakhawat Husain said today (13 July).
He also said dialysis services would be expanded in phases at district medical college hospitals, district hospitals and upazila hospitals to improve access to treatment for kidney patients closer to their homes.
Speaking at the "Sustaining Play, Learning and Skills in Humanitarian Contexts (SPLASH)" programme, organised by BRAC and the Lego Foundation in Dhaka, the minister said each district medical college hospital would receive 50 dialysis beds, while district and upazila hospitals would each be equipped with 10 dialysis beds.
Sakhawat also outlined plans to strengthen grassroots healthcare by deploying trained midwives and caregivers to conduct basic health screenings during household visits using specialised screening devices.
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Family planning drive, upazila hospital upgrades
The minister said the government would step up family planning activities to curb the country's rising population growth rate by ensuring the availability of contraceptives, particularly in rural areas.
He also announced plans to upgrade upazila hospitals originally built with 31 beds and later expanded to 50 beds into 101-bed facilities.
The upgraded hospitals will include breastfeeding corners, prayer rooms, modern pathology laboratories and kidney dialysis centres, he added.
Five-year SPLASH programme launched
At the event, BRAC and the Lego Foundation launched the five-year SPLASH programme, which aims to provide play-based learning, psychosocial support and skills development to around 400,000 children and adolescents affected by conflict, displacement and humanitarian crises in Bangladesh and Uganda.
According to the organisers, more than 473 million children worldwide live in humanitarian settings, while over 52 million remain out of school.
Supported through a $50 million partnership, the programme will also strengthen the capacity of parents, teachers and local communities.
In Bangladesh, the first phase of the project will run from June 2026 to December 2028.
It will offer age-appropriate education, life skills, vocational training, mentorship, and livelihood opportunities for children and adolescents from birth to age 18, while promoting play-based learning in refugee camps and host communities.
