Dhaka, Oct 26 (V7N)- Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain has pledged a major transformation of Bangladesh’s health sector by the next fiscal year, saying the government is giving healthcare the highest priority.
He made the remarks at a programme at BRAC University in the capital on Monday morning, where he also assured that the government would provide all necessary support for cancer research.
The minister said work was underway to establish eight cancer hospitals across the country’s eight administrative divisions as part of efforts to expand specialised treatment facilities.
He also announced plans to establish 151-bed hospitals in every upazila under a proposed project worth Tk 16,000 crore. According to him, each hospital would include 20 beds for pregnant women, 20 for newborns and 10 beds for kidney patients requiring dialysis.
Highlighting the potential of Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical industry, Sakhawat Hossain said locally manufactured medicines were reaching markets in different countries. He expressed optimism that Bangladeshi pharmaceutical products would expand their presence in the United States.
The minister alleged that years of mismanagement and corruption had severely damaged the country’s health sector, stressing the need for comprehensive reforms.
“If we cannot create a healthy nation, the country's economy can never be built on a strong foundation,” he said.
The government’s proposed hospital expansion and investment in specialised healthcare are aimed at improving access to medical services, particularly outside major urban centres.
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