Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain on Monday directed all private clinics and hospitals across the country to establish dedicated delivery rooms by July 11, warning that the licences of non-compliant institutions would be cancelled.

"The mandatory establishment of delivery rooms in all private clinics and hospitals must be completed by July 11. Otherwise, the licences of the respective institutions will be cancelled," he told a workshop organised by the Bangladesh Midwifery Society (BMS) at a hotel in the capital as the chief guest.

The minister explained that the strict directive was aimed at curbing the growing trend of unnecessary Caesarean section (C-section) deliveries in private healthcare facilities.

Expressing deep concern over the increasing rate of unnecessary C-sections, the minister said a section of healthcare providers has become excessively profit-driven, prioritising financial gain over patients' welfare.

He noted that Bangladesh once had a long tradition of safe normal deliveries, particularly in rural areas with the assistance of experienced birth attendants, but commercial interests have contributed to a sharp rise in avoidable Caesarean operations.

The minister alleged that some private clinics and brokers actively mislead expectant families by exaggerating pregnancy-related complications and creating fear that both mother and baby would be at risk without immediate surgery, forcing many to opt for C-sections.

He explicitly stated that the government would take strict measures to stop such unethical practices and protect pregnant women from unnecessary surgical procedures.

Turning to the dengue situation, Sakhawat said adequate hospital beds and mobile medical services have been arranged for dengue patients, while targeted dengue prevention activities have been underway at the upazila level for the past two months.

He announced that mosquito larvicide tablets would be supplied across the country within the next seven days alongside ongoing cleanliness drives.

The minister said the earlier shortage of saline had been resolved and sufficient supplies were now available, adding that the country's dengue situation is currently better than that of the corresponding period last year.

He also instructed doctors not to discharge dengue patients until they are fully satisfied with their recovery, even if the fever subsides, stressing the need to closely monitor the risk of plasma leakage.

Furthermore, the minister announced that the government plans to recruit 100,000 new personnel in the health sector, of whom 80,000 will be women, with the majority serving as midwifery professionals.