The government is set to launch five 200-bed specialised paediatric hospitals in Khulna, Barishal, Rangpur, Rajshahi, and Cumilla divisions within the next six months. Preparations are already in the final stages to open the hospitals in Barishal and Khulna divisions by early August.
According to official sources, each hospital will feature an intensive care unit (ICU), a central air-conditioning system, and provisions for future expansion. These facilities will include large-scale ICU units to meet the needs of young patients. Tenders for the procurement of furniture and medical equipment have already been completed.
To ensure the full functionality of these institutions, each hospital will require a workforce of 1,475 personnel. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has already directed the Ministry of Public Administration to ensure the necessary recruitment.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain has inspected the hospital buildings in Khulna, Barishal, and Cumilla. During his visit to the Barishal Child Hospital, he announced that the facility would be inaugurated on 1 August.
He stated that all necessary medical equipment – including neonatal ventilators, CT scans, X-ray machines, portable X-rays, multi-parameter or cardiac monitors, and phototherapy machines – will be delivered by July.
The move follows an emergency meeting on 10 May, where Tarique Rahman directed the Ministry of Health to quickly functionalise six unused child hospitals across the country. He also instructed senior officials to conduct field visits and submit a report by 2 June. Minister Sakhawat confirmed that these efforts were initiated following the prime minister’s directives.
Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Health SM Ziauddin Hyder also inspected the 200-bed Barishal Child Hospital and noted that emergency department services would commence in the first phase this August.
Work has also been intensified for the Khulna Divisional Child Hospital. Minister Sakhawat visited the site on 20 May to review progress and expressed optimism that it would be operational within six months. Acting Director of the Khulna Divisional Health Office Dr Md Mujibur Rahman confirmed that the ministry is currently collecting information to issue further instructions.
In Cumilla, the minister visited the under-construction hospital in the Beltoli area of Cumilla Sadar Dakshin on 25 May, declaring it would also open within six months. Acting Director of Cumilla Medical College Hospital Dr Md Shahjahan has already submitted a requisition for manpower and equipment following high-level meetings.
The Rangpur Child Hospital is also slated for opening after remaining unused for six years following the completion of its construction.
The Director General of the Directorate General of Health Education Dr Nazmul Hossain inspected the infrastructure and noted that the prime minister has ordered the activation of several such dormant health facilities across the country.
Regarding the Rajshahi Child Hospital, the government plans to launch it within three months. Health Services Division Secretary Md Kamruzzaman Chowdhury and Director General of Health Services Dr Pravath Chandra Biswas have visited the site to provide necessary directives. The secretary stated that outdoor services will be introduced in the first phase, with other services to be launched gradually in the next financial year.
