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The Health and Family Welfare Ministry has taken an initiative to expand and improve access to cancer treatment across Bangladesh, with 17 new radiotherapy machines set to be installed at hospitals around the country.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain disclosed the plan at a press briefing at his ministry office at the Secretariat on Wednesday.
Of the 17 machines, six will be installed in Dhaka and 11 outside the capital, the minister said. The move is expected to allow cancer patients to receive treatment closer to home at lower costs while reducing pressure on healthcare facilities in Dhaka.
The government is also focusing on expanding modern cancer treatment technologies outside the capital, he said.
The ministry is simultaneously working to introduce robotic surgery in the country. Of the 10 robotic surgery systems planned based on demand, five are expected to be brought in this year, the minister said.
On the government’s year-round family planning campaign, Sakhawat said the programme would run nationwide from December 1, 2026, to November 30, 2027.
The campaign will include field-level awareness activities as well as door-to-door distribution of contraceptives and family planning advice, he said.
Regarding the dengue situation, the minister said treatment and the supply of necessary saline were being ensured in line with World Health Organization protocols.
He said doctors had been advised to remain alert to changes in dengue strains and possible post-dengue cardiac complications.
He also stressed the need to continue public awareness and cleanliness campaigns to control mosquito populations.