Govt to upgrade upazila hospitals, expand dialysis facilities

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain on Wednesday said the government was taking a series of measures to bring healthcare services closer to people, including upgrading upazila hospitals and expanding dialysis facilities across the country.

Speaking at a public-oriented seminar titled “Every Heartbeat is Life” at the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute in Mirpur, the minister said the government was committed to bringing positive changes to the country’s healthcare system.

The seminar was organised to mark World Heart Day 2026, with National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh President Professor Khondaker Abdul Awal Rizvi in the chair.

Sakhawat said work was underway to upgrade every upazila health complex from 50 beds to 151 beds.
The government was also taking steps to establish 10-bed dialysis centres at district-level hospitals and 50-bed dialysis centres at medical college hospitals across the country, he said.

“These initiatives will help reduce the pressure on hospitals in Dhaka to some extent and provide people in different parts of the country with opportunities to receive necessary treatment in their own areas,” Sakhawat said.

The minister said the health sector had received its highest-ever budget allocation this year, with the government focusing not only on infrastructure but also on ensuring adequate manpower.
As part of the effort, the process of recruiting nurses had begun, he said.

Sakhawat also expressed concern over the rising number of HIV infections in the country.
He said the prevalence of non-communicable diseases was also increasing at an alarming rate, stressing the need for stronger preventive measures and greater public awareness.

“People must bring about positive changes in their lifestyles to stay healthy,” he said.
The minister said government initiatives would continue to make heart disease prevention and treatment more accessible.

He stressed greater public awareness, tobacco control, healthy lifestyles and early detection to reduce the risk of heart disease.
“Coordinated initiatives are needed at the individual, family, community and state levels to prevent heart disease,” he said.
Speaking at the seminar, DGME Director General Professor Dr Nazmul Hosain said identifying risk factors at an early stage was important to prevent heart disease.
He said the prevalence of heart disease could be reduced significantly by controlling high blood pressure, diabetes, unhealthy dietary habits, physical inactivity and tobacco use.
He stressed strengthening preventive healthcare alongside health education and public awareness.
Secretary of the Textiles and Jute Ministry Sharf Uddin Ahmed Choudhury, National Heart Foundation Secretary General Professor Dr Fazila-Tun-Nesa Malik, and Professor Sohel Reza Choudhury of the Department of Epidemiology and Research at the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute attended the event as special guests.
National Heart Foundation Joint Secretary General Naushad Hossain delivered the vote of thanks.