Solar Power to Be Expanded to Hospitals Nationwide, Energy Audit Within Six Months: State Minister for Health

An initiative is under way to expand the use of solar power at hospitals and healthcare centres across the country to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply in the health sector. Work is proceeding with the goal of making the health ministry the first national 'champion' in solar power use through this initiative, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare M A Muhit has said.

The state minister made the remarks on Wednesday (November 4) at a panel discussion of the Bangladesh Solar Expo at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre. The discussion, titled 'Setting an Example in Expanding Rooftop Solar Power on Government Buildings', was organised by the Power Division and the Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL).

The state minister said electricity supply in the health sector is not merely an ordinary service — it is an essential need and is directly linked to health security.

He said the government has around 15,000 healthcare centres at the grassroots level across the country. Beyond those are district sadar hospitals, medical college hospitals and specialised health institutions. A large part of these institutions' activities is conducted during the daytime, which aligns with solar power generation hours.

The state minister said uninterrupted electricity is needed to keep operating theatres, emergency departments, intensive care units (ICUs) and the vaccine cold chain running. The government is determined to increase the use of environment-friendly solar power by reducing dependence on diesel in this area.

M A Muhit said that within the next six months to a year, an audit will be conducted to assess the structural capacity and energy demand of all health infrastructure in the country. Through it, how much solar power can be installed at each institution will be identified.

Calling on private sector entrepreneurs to invest in hospitals, the state minister said hospital operations cannot be kept closed for even a single day, so payment of electricity bills at these institutions is assured. However, investors must ensure regular maintenance, the use of certified components for fire safety, and the security of solar panels in remote areas.

At the discussion, the prime minister's adviser (with the rank of state minister) Mahdi Amin presented plans to expand solar power at educational institutions. He said that within the next six months it will be verified which schools, colleges, madrasas and universities have rooftops suitable for solar installation and where extra land is available, and a final list will be prepared.

He said solar project implementation work is under process at more than 30 of the country's more than 50 public universities. He also stressed building the related industry and skilled manpower alongside solar power generation to achieve self-reliance in the sector.

The discussion, moderated by Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (REB) Chairman Major General Md Mahbubul Haque, was also addressed by Power Division Secretary Mirana Mahrukh. Officials from various government and private organisations, solar sector entrepreneurs, investors and renewable energy experts were present.