Dhaka: Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain today conducted surprise inspections of Satkhira Medical College Hospital and several other healthcare facilities in the district. The minister first inspected Tala Upazila Health Complex in Satkhira, then Satkhira Medical College Hospital, where he toured the hospital's kitchen, washrooms, and various wards, and spoke with patients. He also visited Satkhira Sadar Hospital.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, speaking to journalists after the inspections, the minister stated that Bangladesh currently has an insufficient number of doctors compared to the growing number of patients, as noted in an official handout. He attributed this shortage to the previous authoritarian government's failure to recruit enough physicians and their neglect of the healthcare sector.
The minister revealed plans to upgrade 31-bed and 50-bed hospitals into 101-bed facilities to enhance healthcare services. He announced that the number of beds at kidney dialysis centers in all medical college hospitals and district hospitals will be increased, and dialysis centers will be established in hospitals where such facilities are currently unavailable.
Additionally, Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain mentioned the introduction of physiotherapy services and modern pathology facilities at every Upazila Health Complex. Future plans include equipping these hospitals with 10-bed kidney dialysis units. Furthermore, he announced that the government will soon commence issuing e-Health Cards to improve healthcare services and patient access.