1
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has ordered the rapid activation of six unused children’s hospitals across the country. He has also given specific instructions to submit a comprehensive report on the implementation and progress of this directive by June 2nd.
The Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary, Zahidul Islam Roni, provided this information.
He stated that during the meeting, it was discussed that the Kushtia Medical College Hospital is partially operational. In this regard, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has instructed the full activation of this 500-bed hospital.
Additionally, the Prime Minister ordered the rapid activation of other hospitals, including the Super Specialized Hospital under Bangladesh Medical University in Shahbagh, Dhaka.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has instructed to involve the Chinese Embassy through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to expedite the construction work of the 1,000-bed Bangladesh-China Friendship Hospital in Nilphamari.
It is learned that the Bangladesh-China Friendship Hospital in Nilphamari will be constructed in the Sadar Upazila. This project is consistent with the current government’s electoral manifesto (“Establishment of Modern ‘Secondary Healthcare Units’ in Every District”).
It is worth mentioning that on April 12, a report titled “Buildings of 6 Children’s Hospitals Lie Vacant After Spending BDT 320 Crore” was published in a newspaper. The report later came to the attention of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
The report mentioned that modern buildings for six hospitals in Rangpur, Khulna, Rajshahi, Barishal, Sylhet, and Cumilla have been constructed but have remained unused for years.
After reading such news published in the newspaper, the Prime Minister held an urgent meeting with Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhaowat Hossain, State Minister Dr. M. A. Muhith, and Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Md. Kamruzzaman Chowdhury, along with other relevant officials.
In the meeting, the Prime Minister immediately instructed the Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and other relevant officials to quickly inspect and operationalize these six unused hospitals.
Health Secretary Kamruzzaman Chowdhury stated that in the northern region of Bangladesh, particularly in the Rangpur division, providing treatment for complex diseases has become challenging due to high poverty rates, limited health infrastructure, and a shortage of skilled human resources in this region of approximately 20 million people. In this situation, if the Bangladesh-China Friendship Hospital is built, it will serve as a regional referral center.
The Health Secretary also commented that expanding advanced medical services in the northern region is a timely and strategic step.