Five 200-bed children`s hospitals to open across Bangladesh

The government plans to launch five 200-bed specialised children's hospitals in Khulna, Barishal, Rangpur, Rajshahi, and Cumilla within the next six months to strengthen paediatric healthcare services across the country.

According to officials, each hospital will be equipped with intensive care units (ICUs), central air-conditioning and modern medical equipment, including neonatal ventilators, CT scanners, X-ray machines, cardiac monitors and phototherapy units. Procurement of furniture and medical equipment has already been completed, while recruitment of around 1,475 staff for each facility is underway following directives from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

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Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain said the hospitals would be opened in phases, with the Barishal Children's Hospital expected to begin operations on Aug. 1. The initiative follows the prime minister's directive to make several long-idle children's hospitals operational and improve access to specialised healthcare services for children across the country.