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Public hospitals across Bangladesh have added 3,048 beds in eight months as the government steps up efforts to expand healthcare infrastructure and ease pressure on overcrowded medical facilities.
The expansion covers medical college hospitals, district-level facilities and upazila health complexes, according to official health ministry records covering April 28 to October 19.
Since assuming office on February 17, the government has also approved two new medical colleges in Thakurgaon and Narsingdi, on May 15 and June 14, respectively.
Some of the country’s major hospitals have seen substantial increases in capacity. Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogura added 600 beds, raising its total from 1,200 to 1,800 on September 8.
Mugda Medical College Hospital in Dhaka and Dinajpur Medical College Hospital each doubled their capacity from 500 to 1,000 beds on May 21. Rajshahi Medical College Hospital added another 100 beds, taking its total to 1,300 on July 13.
Expansion has also reached district hospitals. Rajbari Sadar Hospital and Rangamati General Hospital each increased their capacity from 100 to 250 beds, while Joypurhat General Hospital expanded from 250 to 400 beds.
Narsingdi District Hospital was upgraded from 100 to 250 beds in June. The National Institute of ENT in Dhaka’s Tejgaon also added 115 beds, bringing its total capacity to 250.
Alongside major hospitals, the government is planning a significant expansion of healthcare facilities at the upazila level.
In June, it initially decided to upgrade all upazila health complexes to 101 beds. The target was subsequently revised on August 12, with a plan to gradually increase their capacity to 151 beds.
Under the expansion programme, Nandigram Upazila Health Complex in Bogura has been upgraded from 31 to 50 beds. The National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital in Dhaka has also increased its capacity from 500 to 700 beds.
Seven other upazila health complexes in Chakaria and Pekua of Chattogram, Bhairab of Kishoreganj, Taraganj of Rangpur, Osmaninagar of Sylhet, Atgharia of Pabna and Phulgazi of Feni have each received an additional 19 beds.
Professor Dr Md Nurul Islam, director of the Hospital and Clinic Branch of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), said access to healthcare at public hospitals was a constitutional right.
He said the government had added more than 3,000 beds based on public needs, particularly to ensure that patients suffering from measles and dengue did not face difficulties finding hospital beds.
The DGHS official expects significant improvements in the country’s healthcare system once all upazila health complexes are upgraded to 151 beds within the next year.
The expansion marks a major push to strengthen public healthcare infrastructure. However, its ultimate impact will depend not only on additional beds but also on adequate doctors, nurses, medical equipment and other essential services to ensure quality treatment.