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The government is planning to launch a floating hospital, “Shasthya Tori” (Health Boat), to provide modern healthcare services to people living in remote coastal areas, islands and riverine chars.
The initiative is being undertaken jointly by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Shipping.
Health State Minister Dr M. A. Muhit disclosed the plan while inspecting the proposed floating hospital project beneath the Babubazar Bridge in the capital at around 4:30pm on Friday. State Minister for Shipping Rajib Ahsan was also present.
Muhit said ensuring healthcare for people in underserved and hard-to-reach areas is a key priority of the government’s health plan.
“Through this joint initiative, we plan to introduce a floating hospital to provide quality medical services to people living in coastal, island and char areas,” he said.
The hospital is expected to serve people in at least four to five southern districts and 30 to 40 remote upazilas, providing treatment and surgical services for common but complex health conditions, the state minister said.
He noted that there have been some successful small-scale floating hospital initiatives by private organisations in the past.
“However, effectively combining the limited resources and facilities of the shipping and health ministries under government management could help establish an integrated water-based healthcare system and play a transformative role for coastal communities,” Muhit said.
He said there is particularly high demand in remote areas for women’s healthcare, safe delivery and postnatal care through midwives, child healthcare, general orthopaedic and bone surgery, and cataract operations.
“Specialist medical teams will be formed to deliver these essential services to underserved communities through the vessel,” he said.
Shipping State Minister Rajib Ahsan said providing healthcare through alternative means to disadvantaged people in remote char areas of Barishal, Noakhali, Bhola, Patuakhali and Barguna had been under consideration for a long time.
“Our main goal is to bring healthcare to the doorsteps of people who want treatment but cannot travel to district hospitals or Dhaka,” he said.
During the inspection, Health Services Division Secretary Dr A. N. M. Bazlur Rashid, Health Education and Family Welfare Division Secretary A. K. M. Benjamin Riazi and senior officials of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) were present.
