The government is set to launch five 200-bed specialised children’s hospitals in Khulna, Barishal, Rangpur, Rajshahi divisions and Cumilla district within the next six months, significantly expanding pediatric healthcare services across the country.

According to the Health Ministry, all necessary preparations have been completed to open the hospitals, having Intensive Care Unit (ICU) services, central air-conditioning and provision for future expansion, in Barishal and Khulna by early August.

The tender process for procuring furniture and medical equipment for the hospitals has already been completed, while steps are underway to recruit the required workforce.

To make the hospitals fully operational, each facility will require 1,475 personnel. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has already instructed the Ministry of Public Administration to take necessary measures for manpower recruitment.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain recently visited the hospital buildings in Khulna, Barishal and Cumilla to review preparations for their opening.

During a visit to the Barishal Children's Hospital, the minister announced that the facility would be inaugurated on August 1. He said all essential equipment, including neonatal ventilators, CT scan and X-ray machines, portable X-ray units, multiparameter cardiac monitors and phototherapy machines, would be supplied by July.

On May 10, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, at an emergency meeting with the Health Ministry, directed authorities to quickly operationalize six unused children’s hospitals in different divisions of the country. He also instructed senior officials to inspect the facilities and submit reports within June 2.

Talking to BSS, Sakhawat Husain said five specialized 200-bed children's hospitals would begin operations within six months under the Prime Minister's directive.

“These centrally air-conditioned hospitals will have ICU facilities. Tenders for furniture and equipment have already been completed,” he said.

The minister added that every hospital would initially have ICU facilities with adequate space reserved for future expansion of critical care services and bed capacity.

Prime Minister's Special Assistant on Health Affairs Dr SM Ziauddin Hyder recently visited the 200-bed Barishal Children's Hospital and said emergency services would be launched in the first phase after the hospital opens in August.

In Khulna, efforts have intensified to operationalize the divisional children's hospital following the Prime Minister's directive. During a visit on May 20, the health minister reviewed construction progress and expressed optimism that the hospital could be opened within six months.

Acting Director of Khulna Divisional Health Office Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman said the hospital had been inspected jointly with officials from the Public Works Department and the Civil Surgeon's Office.

“The ministry is collecting information regarding the new children's hospital. We will take further steps as per government directives,” he said.

The government is also moving forward with the launch of the Cumilla Children's Hospital in the Beltali area of Sadar South. Following an emergency meeting at the Health Ministry, Acting Director of Cumilla Medical College Hospital Dr. Md. Shahjahan submitted manpower and equipment requirements to the relevant authorities.

Meanwhile, the long-awaited Rangpur Children's Hospital is set to begin operations after remaining unused for six years despite completion of construction. Director General of the Directorate General of Medical Education Dr. Nazmul Hossain recently inspected the facility.

He said several completed health infrastructures across the country yet to become operational, adding that the Prime Minister had directed the Health Ministry to bring such facilities into service.

The government has also taken steps to launch the Rajshahi Children's Hospital within the next three months. Health Services Division Secretary Md. Kamruzzaman Chowdhury and Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services Professor Dr. Probhat Chandra Biswas have already visited the hospital and provided necessary instructions.

Kamruzzaman Chowdhury said outpatient services would be introduced in the first phase, while additional services would be rolled out gradually in the next fiscal year.