The government plans to build six 100-bed hospitals in major industrial areas to ensure access to healthcare for workers, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman told parliament on Monday.
The hospitals will be set up initially in Tongi, Ashulia, Kaliakair, Narayanganj, Savar and Chattogram, and will provide medical services exclusively to workers, he said.
The prime minister announced the plan in response to an unscheduled question from lawmaker Shamshur Rahman Shimul Biswas on the first day of the fourth session of the 13th parliament.
Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal chaired the sitting.
Tarique Rahman said the government had already taken the initiative to establish the six hospitals, each with a capacity of 100 beds, to ensure proper medical care for working people.
“Initially, we will build one 100-bed hospital each in six major industrial areas of the country – Tongi, Ashulia, Kaliakair, Narayanganj, Savar and Chattogram. These hospitals will provide healthcare services exclusively to our workers,” he said.
He added that ensuring healthcare for workers was part of the government’s broader commitment to serving people from all walks of life.
Earlier, speaking about the country’s energy, industrial and healthcare sectors, the prime minister alleged that the previous government had made the energy sector heavily dependent on imports instead of properly utilising domestic mineral resources.
He also said industrial development had been hindered during the previous administration.
Referring to the healthcare sector, Tarique Rahman alleged that medical services, particularly in rural areas, had deteriorated over the years.
He further claimed that the healthcare situation had been allowed to deteriorate to such an extent that Bangladeshis were compelled to travel to a particular neighbouring country for treatment.
