Dhaka:The government of Bangladesh has announced plans to establish five new Institutes of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS) at medical college hospitals across the country. This initiative aims to provide advanced diagnostic and treatment services for cancer and other complex diseases at the grassroots level.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the new INMAS facilities will be set up at Sunamganj Medical College and Hospital, Tangail Medical College and Hospital, Noakhali Medical College and Hospital, Patuakhali Medical College and Hospital, and Shaheed Syed Nazrul Islam Medical College Hospital in Kishoreganj. The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC), under the Ministry of Science and Technology, is tasked with implementing the project, which is slated for completion by June 2030.
The Development Project Proposal (DPP) outlines that the four-year project will cost an estimated Tk 535.54 crore, fully financed by government funds. A Planning Commission official noted that the project is pending approval by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).
State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. MA Muhit stated that the project is part of a broader government initiative to decentralize specialized healthcare and improve access to cancer-related services across the country. Currently, many cancer patients must travel to Dhaka for specialized treatment, and the new facilities aim to reduce this dependency.
The project document emphasizes the goal of expanding specialized services at medical college hospital campuses to lessen reliance on capital-centric healthcare. The INMAS facilities will offer nuclear medicine services for conditions affecting the thyroid, kidney, liver, heart, and other organs, as well as various types of cancer. They will also support medical research and the development of specialized human resources.
Bangladesh currently has 37 medical colleges, with INMAS facilities established at 22 government medical college and hospital campuses. The project document indicates a phased expansion program is needed for the remaining campuses.
The selection of the five new sites considered factors such as geographical location, population, and healthcare needs. The institutes will be equipped with modern nuclear medicine and diagnostic technologies, including PET-CT, SPECT-CT, SPECT, BMD, 4D Ultrasound, and Color Doppler and thyroid scanners.
The project involves the construction of institutes, procurement of equipment, human-resource development, recruitment of personnel, and acquisition of furniture and vehicles. Of the total project cost, approximately Tk 498.08 crore is allocated for capital expenditure, with revenue expenditure estimated at Tk 17.54 crore. Foreign-currency expenditure is projected at Tk 173.50 crore for imported equipment and related items.
A feasibility study by Participatory Action Research of Human Advancement (PARA) guided the project's formulation. The Planning Commission's Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) has reviewed the proposal, recommending it with certain conditions. The revised proposal includes an implementation schedule and provisions for ongoing service operation after project completion. The Planning Commission has recommended the proposal be presented to ECNEC for approval.