Sufficient vaccine stock for next 6 months
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain has said that Bangladesh currently has sufficient stock of all types of vaccines, assuring uninterrupted immunisation services for at least the next six months.
He made the remarks on Tuesday after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch the Bangladesh-China Joint Surgical Clinic at Shahbagh in Dhaka.
The MoU was signed between Bangladesh Medical University and China’s Kunming Medical University, aiming to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the health sector.
The minister said there is no shortage of vaccines in the country and confirmed that vaccination services will continue smoothly. He also acknowledged a temporary shortage of rabies vaccine but said the issue has already been resolved through local procurement.
According to him, earlier regulatory requirements for external testing had delayed supply, but the clause has now been withdrawn to speed up availability.
He added that Bangladesh has started sourcing anti-rabies vaccines from local pharmaceutical companies such as Incepta and Popular Pharmaceuticals. A buffer stock is expected within the next one and a half months, while rural areas are not currently facing shortages.
Responding to reports of six truckloads of equipment allegedly being stolen from the BMU Super Specialised Hospital, the minister clarified that the stolen items were not medical equipment but construction materials, mainly iron goods. He said a general diary has been filed and police are investigating the incident, adding that strict action will be taken against anyone involved regardless of position.
Highlighting Bangladesh-China cooperation, he said China has consistently supported Bangladesh, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the new agreement reflects growing bilateral relations. He said the initiative will introduce joint surgical clinics and mobile healthcare services to improve medical access, especially for underprivileged communities.
The minister also announced plans to recruit 100,000 health workers to address manpower shortages in the sector. In addition, ten armed Ansar members will be deployed at all upazila-level hospitals to ensure security for medical staff.
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen expressed optimism that cooperation between the two countries in the health sector will further expand in the coming years.
