Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has ordered that six unused children’s hospitals be made operational without delay.
PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Jahidul Islam Rony said the directive came after a media report titled “Six children’s hospital buildings built at cost of Tk320 crore remain unused” drew his attention.
The report was published on 12 April. The report read that although six modern hospital buildings were constructed in Rangpur, Khulna, Rajshahi, Barishal, Sylhet and Cumilla, they have remained unused for years.
Rony said after reading the news, the Prime Minister held an emergency meeting with Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain, State Minister MA Muhit, Medical Education and Family Welfare Division Secretary Md Quamruzzaman Chowdhury and others concerned.
At the meeting, he said Tarique Rahman immediately instructed the secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the concerned officials to inspect and make these six unused hospitals operational quickly.
Simultaneously, the premier asked the officials concerned to submit a comprehensive report on the implementation and progress of the directives on 2 June.
The deputy press secretary said that it was discussed at the meeting that Kushtia Medical College Hospital is partially operational. In this regard, the Prime Minister directed to make the 500-bed hospital fully operational.
Besides, Tarique Rahman also directed to make the remaining hospitals, including the Super Specialized Hospital under Bangladesh Medical University at Shahbagh, Dhaka, operational within quickest possible time.
In addition, he also directed to start the construction work of the 1,000-bed Bangladesh-China Friendship Hospital in Nilphamari quickly by involving the Chinese Embassy through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to the officials, the Bangladesh-China Friendship Hospital will be constructed in Nilphamari Sadar Upazila. This project has been aligned with the current government’s election manifesto (establishing modern “secondary healthcare units” in every district).
Medical Education and Family Welfare Division Secretary Md Quamruzzaman Chowdhury said in the country’s northern region hosting nearly two crore population, especially in Rangpur Division, ensuring healthcare services for complex diseases have become difficult due to the high poverty rate, limited health infrastructure, and shortage of skilled human resources.
In this situation, if the Bangladesh-China Friendship Hospital is built, the hospital will work as a regional referral center, he added.
Besides, he said expanding advanced healthcare services in the northern region is a timely and strategic step.
