No new clinic approvals in front of govt hospitals: Health Minister

Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain has said no new clinics will be approved in front of government hospitals. He also said this practice will be completely stopped.

The Health Minister made these remarks in response to a journalist's question during a sudden inspection of Gazaria Upazila Health Complex in Munshiganj around 10am on Tuesday, September 22.

Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain said diagnostic centres were approved like mushrooms during the previous government's tenure. After the current government took office, it decided that no new clinics will be approved in front of government hospitals. Alongside this, if the clinics and diagnostic centres currently approved do not operate properly, they will be shut down.

The Health Minister said the government has taken various initiatives to improve the quality of healthcare. As part of this, work will begin next October to upgrade Gazaria Upazila Health Complex from 50 beds to 151 beds. Within the next two years, arrangements will be made to provide dialysis to 10 patients at a time there.

He also said a modern pathology lab will be set up at the health complex within the same period, along with separate physiotherapy centres for men and women.

Member of Parliament for Munshiganj-3 constituency Kamruzzaman Ratan was present with him during the inspection. Also present were Gazaria Upazila Executive Officer Ummey Hafsa Nadia, Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Sharmin Ahmed Tithi, Resident Medical Officer Dr Nusrat Farzana Khan and concerned officials and employees of the health complex.