Govt moving to upgrade all upazila health complexes to 150 beds: Health Minister

The government is moving to upgrade the country’s existing 50-bed upazila health complexes to 150-bed facilities to bring healthcare closer to people, Health Sate Minister Dr M A Muhith said on Thursday (August 20).

He said the government was also shifting its focus towards preventive healthcare rather than relying solely on treatment after people fall sick.

"Strengthening preventive healthcare will not only help keep people healthy but also reduce pressure on hospitals," Muhith said while speaking as chief guest at the inauguration of a nationwide oral cholera vaccination campaign at Tejgaon in Dhaka.

The minister formally launched the campaign by administering an oral cholera vaccine to a person with disabilities and called for collective efforts to ensure its successful implementation across the country.

He said the government was placing particular emphasis on disease prevention alongside treatment as part of its broader public health strategy. The health sector has also received its highest-ever allocation in the country’s history, he said, adding that efforts were underway to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and expand access to essential services.

Highlighting the importance of oral cholera vaccines in preventing cholera and diarrhoeal diseases, Muhit said the vaccine is easy to administer and must reach people in remote villages, char areas and hilly regions as well as urban communities.

He urged local representatives, social organisations and people from all walks of life to join the vaccination campaign and turn it into an effective social movement.

Health Services Division Secretary Md Kamruzzaman Chowdhury chaired the programme.