The government is taking an initiative to construct a floating hospital named “Shashthya Tori” to deliver modern medical services directly to the doorsteps of marginalised populations in remote coastal, island, and char regions of the country.
State Minister for Health MA Muhit revealed the plan to journalists on Friday following an inspection of the proposed floating hospital site beneath the Babubazar Bridge in the capital.
State Minister for Shipping Razib Ahsan accompanied him during the visit, where both state ministers inspected the vessel and discussed its operational feasibility and service activities.
Speaking during the inspection, Muhit said that ensuring healthcare for underprivileged and hard-to-reach populations remains a key objective of the government’s health plan.
He explained that a joint plan has been undertaken by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Shipping to launch the “Shashthya Tori” floating hospital to bring quality medical care to people living in coastal, island, and char areas.
The Muhit noted that the vessel will make it possible to provide modern treatment and surgical procedures for complex yet commonly occurring diseases across 30 to 40 remote upazilas in at least four to five districts of southern Bangladesh.
Emphasising the maximum utilisation of public resources, Muhit acknowledged that small-scale floating hospitals previously yielded positive examples through private initiatives.
However, he stressed that effectively coordinating the existing limited resources and facilities of the Ministry of Shipping and the Ministry of Health under government management to establish an integrated water-based healthcare system would play a groundbreaking role for coastal residents.
He further highlighted a widespread demand in rural areas for critical health services, including women’s healthcare, safe delivery and post-natal care provided by midwives, child healthcare, general orthopaedic or bone surgery, and cataract operations.
Teams comprising specialist doctors will be formed to deliver these essential services to marginalised populations through the vessel.
