Dhaka: The government is undertaking a groundbreaking initiative to construct a floating hospital named 'Shastho Tori' aimed at delivering modern healthcare services directly to marginalized communities residing in remote coastal, island, and char areas of the country.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. M A Muhit shared details of this endeavor while addressing journalists after evaluating the floating hospital project beneath the Babubazar Bridge in the capital. He was accompanied by State Minister for Shipping Md. Razib Ahsan during the inspection.
The ministers assessed the vessel's potential for healthcare service delivery and reviewed various aspects of its planned operations. Dr. Muhit emphasized that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in collaboration with the Ministry of Shipping, is spearheading this project to bring quality medical services to people residing in coastal, island, and char areas.
Dr. Muhit highlighted the project's capacity to offer modern treatment and surgical services for complex yet common diseases across 30 to 40 remote upazilas in at least four to five districts in the southern region. He stressed the importance of optimizing government resources and referred to past successes with small-scale floating hospitals initiated by private entities.
He noted that developing an integrated water-based healthcare system under government management by effectively coordinating resources from the shipping and health ministries could significantly impact coastal communities. Dr. Muhit also pointed out the high demand for crucial services such as women's healthcare, safe childbirth, postnatal care, child healthcare, orthopedic surgeries, and cataract operations in rural areas. These services will be delivered by specialist medical teams aboard the vessel.
State Minister Razib Ahsan reiterated the long-standing plan to provide healthcare through alternative means to disadvantaged populations in remote char areas such as Barishal, Noakhali, Bhola, Patuakhali, and Barguna. He underscored the primary goal of ensuring healthcare access for individuals in remote communities who cannot travel to district hospitals or Dhaka.
Present at the event were Health Services Secretary Dr. ANM Bazlur Rashid, Medical Education and Family Welfare Secretary A K M Benjamin Riazi, and senior officials from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA).