3,048 beds added to government hospitals in eight months, two new medical colleges approved
The government has added 3,048 beds to government hospitals across the country over the past eight months. Alongside the decisions taken to expand patients' access to treatment and beds, approval was also given in the same period to establish two new government medical colleges, in Thakurgaon and Narsingdi.
The figures come from an analysis of Health Ministry decision documents taken between April 28 and October 19. According to the documents, the decisions were taken after the BNP government assumed office, considering people's demand for treatment.
On September 8, beds at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogura were increased from 1,200 to 1,800 — 600 new beds at that single hospital.
Earlier, on May 21, beds at Mugda Medical College Hospital in the capital and at Dinajpur Medical College Hospital were doubled. Each hospital went from 500 beds to 1,000.
On July 13, Rajshahi Medical College Hospital was increased from 1,200 to 1,300 beds. On the same day, Rajbari Sadar Hospital rose from 100 to 250 beds, Joypurhat General Hospital from 250 to 400, and Rangamati General Hospital from 100 to 250. Beds at Longadu Upazila Health Complex in Rangamati were also raised from 31 to 50.
In June, Narsingdi District Hospital was increased from 100 to 250 beds. On May 17, 50 beds were added at Chakaria Upazila Health Complex in Cox's Bazar and 19 at Pekua Upazila Health Complex. Later, on August 2, another 50 beds were added at Bhairab Upazila Health Complex in Kishoreganj.
Beds at Nandigram Upazila Health Complex in Bogura were raised from 31 to 50, and 19 beds were added at a upazila health complex in Feni. Nineteen beds each were also added at the upazila health complexes of Taraganj in Rangpur, Osmaninagar in Sylhet, Atgharia in Pabna and Fulgazi in Feni.
Beds at the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital in the capital were increased from 500 to 700. At the National Institute of ENT in Tejgaon, 115 beds were added to raise its capacity to 250 beds.
The government has also planned to expand capacity at upazila level. In June it decided to raise all upazila health complexes to 101 beds. On August 12 that decision was revised, with a new plan to raise all upazila health complexes to 151 beds in phases.
Professor Dr Md Nurul Islam, director of the Hospitals and Clinics branch of the Directorate General of Health Services, said treatment at a government hospital is a constitutional right of the people, and the government is trying to provide better treatment services.
He said more than 3,000 beds were added at hospitals across the country so that patients with measles and dengue do not face a bed shortage when seeking admission. Completing the upgrade of upazila health complexes to 151 beds within the next year would bring a major change to the country's healthcare system, he said.
In addition, on May 15 and June 14 the government approved the establishment of two new government medical colleges in Thakurgaon and Narsingdi.
