Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hussain has said all upazila health complexes across the country will be upgraded into modern nine-storey health complexes within the next three years under the Prime Minister’s directives.
“A long-term plan has been taken to upgrade all 50-bed upazila health complexes in the country into 151-bed hospitals within the next three years,” he said while responding to reporters after making surprise visits to the Maheshpur and Kotchandpur upazila health complexes in the district.
He said the healthcare sector had been seriously neglected during the previous 17-year rule of the Awami League government, alleging widespread corruption and a lack of accountability that disrupted health services.
Sakhawat also alleged irregularities in the purchase of medicines for hospitals during the previous government and said the present government wants to bring the country’s health and medical services under a new discipline.
“We have undertaken long-term plans to address the shortage of doctors and medicines and to make services easier for patients. We will not compromise in implementing the plans to restore public confidence in government healthcare services,” he said.
The minister said the upgraded 151-bed upazila hospitals would include a dedicated 25-bed ward for pregnant women and a separate 20-bed ward for children.
Plans have also been taken to introduce services such as kidney dialysis at the upgraded hospitals, he said, adding that the initiatives would significantly improve healthcare services across the country.
Earlier, Sakhawat visited different wards of the Maheshpur and Kotchandpur upazila health complexes and inquired about the condition of patients receiving treatment.
He also spoke with patients and their attendants about the quality of healthcare services and food provided at the hospitals.
Later, the Health Minister visited the Kaliganj Upazila Health Complex.
