Rangpur's 100-bed children's hospital set to open within months

A newly built 100-bed children's hospital in Rangpur is expected to begin operations within the next one to two months as the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare accelerates preparations for its opening, Additional Secretary of the Health Ministry's Budget Division Arif Ahmed said.

He made the announcement during an inspection of the hospital's outpatient and inpatient buildings, main entrance and oxygen plant before meeting local health officials to review operational readiness and address remaining challenges on Saturday (August 1).

Speaking after the visit, Ahmed said procurement of medical equipment, installation of furniture and recruitment of personnel are all in their final stages, paving the way for the launch of the long-awaited specialized pediatric facility.

"Preparations are nearing completion not only for the Rangpur facility but also for several newly built children's hospitals across the country," he said.

He noted that the government has allocated Tk 207 crore for the procurement of medical equipment, with the tender process currently underway. The equipment is expected to be delivered to the hospitals by the end of the month.

Ahmed added that a proposal to create the required staffing positions has already been submitted to the Finance Division and is in its final stages of approval. Procurement of hospital furniture has also progressed, with the tender process completed and sample inspections now underway.

If the schedule remains on track, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to formally inaugurate the country's newly completed children's hospitals within the next one to two months, including the Rangpur facility, he said.

Following the inspection, Ahmed also visited Rangpur Mother and Child Hospital and Rangpur Medical College Hospital.

Senior health officials, including Rangpur Divisional Deputy Director of Health Dr. Wazed Ali and Civil Surgeon Dr. Shahin Sultana, accompanied the delegation.

The hospital was built on 1.78 acres of land at the site of the former Rangpur Sadar Hospital. Construction began after the contract was awarded in November 2017 at a cost of approximately Tk 31.49 crore.

Although the building was completed ahead of schedule, the hospital remained closed due to shortages of medical equipment and staff. Those constraints are now being addressed, bringing the facility closer to opening and expanding access to specialized pediatric healthcare in northern Bangladesh.