Rural Healthcare Services to Be Strengthened: Prime Minister

Dhaka, July 11: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said that the government will further strengthen healthcare services in rural areas, noting that although Bangladesh has nearly 600 upazilas, only five currently have 100-bed hospitals, while more than 70 percent of the country's population lives in villages and upazila-level areas.

The Prime Minister made the remarks on Saturday while inaugurating DMC Day 2026 and a tree plantation program.

He said security measures have been reinforced at hospitals, including Upazila Health Complexes, to ensure the safety of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers. The government has decided to deploy 10 Ansar personnel at each hospital.

To improve patient care, the Prime Minister announced that the recruitment process for 5,000 MBBS doctors has already begun. He also said initiatives have been taken to quickly fill vacant posts for nurses, medical technologists, pharmacists, midwives, and other healthcare professionals.

In addition, the government plans to recruit another 25,000 midwives to ensure safe motherhood and improve the quality of newborn care across the country.

Describing Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) as a living witness to the nation's history, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said the institution played significant roles in the movements of 1952, 1971, and 1990. He added that during the July Movement of 2024, doctors, officials, and staff of DMCH stood by the injured and the families of those who lost their lives, providing treatment and support.