The government will invite tenders worth over BDT 16,000 crore within the next 15 to 20 days to overhaul the health sector, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain announced on Saturday (October 24). He also revealed plans to import five robotic surgery machines to modernize surgical care in the country.

The Minister shared these updates with journalists after inspecting Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH) in the afternoon.

Highlighting the government's commitment to delivering quality medical care to the public, the Minister noted that initiatives are underway to address longstanding mismanagement across the health sector. He acknowledged, however, that systemic issues accumulated over years cannot be resolved overnight.

Alongside the procurement of robotic surgery systems, the Minister stated that radiotherapy equipment for cancer treatment will be supplied, and key hospital infrastructure and diagnostic tools will be upgraded nationwide.

Addressing the severe patient overload at MMCH, he drew attention to the acute shortage of medical personnel relative to Bangladesh’s population.

"Where a physician has the capacity to see 50 patients a day, they are forced to attend to 250 to 300 patients daily," he remarked, noting the extreme mental and physical strain this places on healthcare workers.

Despite these resource constraints, Minister Sakhawat emphasized zero tolerance for negligence, absenteeism, or duty irregularities, warning that strict departmental action would be taken against defaulting staff following investigations.

He noted that during his morning inspection, several physicians were found absent, and their duty rosters have been seized for official scrutiny.

Outlining a firm stance on private healthcare facilities, the Health Minister announced a prohibition on establishing new private clinics within one kilometer of any government hospital.

Existing private facilities will face rigorous monitoring to ensure compliance with operational standards.

"If a clinic lacks proper delivery rooms, exhibits mismanagement, or causes patient death through inadequate care, action will be taken. Facilities failing to meet prescribed conditions will be shut down," he warned.

Earlier in the day, the Minister visited the Phulpur and Tarakanda Upazila Health Complexes.

Expressing dissatisfaction over unsanitary conditions at the Phulpur facility, he ordered the immediate renovation and cleaning of all washrooms within two days.

At Tarakanda, where inpatient services have yet to begin, he assured that necessary medical personnel would be assigned within the coming week to launch inpatient care.

He further detailed plans to upgrade both the Phulpur and Tarakanda complexes to 151-bed hospitals equipped with dialysis, physiotherapy, maternal care, and pediatric units.

Strengthening upazila-level healthcare infrastructure, he noted, would significantly ease the patient load on tertiary centers like MMCH.

To improve maternal healthcare and boost normal delivery rates, the government plans to recruit 25,000 midwives, alongside hiring 5,000 doctors and additional nursing staff.

Furthermore, existing community clinics at the union level will be converted into Family Wellbeing Centers to expand rural primary care.

During the inspection, the Health Minister was accompanied by Mymensingh Deputy Commissioner Md. Saifur Rahman, Superintendent of Police Mohammad Kamrul Hasan, MMCH Director Brigadier General Md. Zakir Hossain, Acting Deputy Director Dr. Md. Zakiul Islam, Mymensingh Development Authority Chairman Motahar Hossain Talukdar, alongside hospital officials and local political leaders.