USA Today, one of the most influential publications in the United States, ran a feature on Sakif Shamim, the leader of the Labaid Group, titled "Sakif Shamim: Labaid’s Bold Vision to Revolutionize Healthcare in Bangladesh." This is a unique and proud moment for Bangladesh’s healthcare industry.
The special report in this world-renowned daily newspaper featured Mr. Sakif Shamim, the visionary Managing Director of Labaid Cancer Hospital & Super Speciality Centre and the Deputy Managing Director of Labaid Group. Featuring Bangladesh’s health sector in an international newspaper like USA Today is a huge honor for the country. It has also opened up a new horizon for establishing Bangladesh as an emerging hub on the global healthcare map.
USA Today is one of the largest and most widely circulated daily newspapers in the United States. Its dynamic design, concise, clear reporting, and inclusion of popular culture stories have influenced the style of many newspapers worldwide. This publication reaches millions of readers globally. By featuring Sakif Shamim's interview and Labaid's work, Bangladesh's health technology and medical capabilities have gained international recognition.
Sakif Shamim currently leads the Labaid Group, which was started by his father in 1984. The group has grown into the country's largest healthcare group, employing more than 12,000 staff. It now includes six specialized hospitals, 45 diagnostic centers, a medical college, pharmaceuticals, real estate, and educational institutions. Under his leadership, the Labaid Cancer Hospital and Super Specialty Center is now considered one of the country's leading hospitals and is counted among the best in Asia.
Sakif Shamim's leadership has brought about a technology-driven revolution in healthcare. He established LifePlus Bangladesh, which is one of the country's largest health-tech companies with over three hundred thousand active users. He also launched Labaid GPT, a generative AI platform built to provide second opinions for doctors and patients, powered by Labaid's many years of stored data. Through his visionary initiative, Labaid Group has also started using Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies via Virtuecare AI. The aim is to make advanced technology affordable and easily available for people in South Asia, Africa, and similar regions.
The expansion strategy of the Labaid Group is far-reaching. They plan to build a 750-bed super-specialty hospital in Dhaka with an investment of $250 million (approximately 2000 crore taka). They also plan to set up 30 cancer centers across the country within the next five to seven years. To increase innovation and credibility in the international market, Labaid is preparing to go public in Singapore and Hong Kong, in addition to Bangladesh. They also have strategic partnerships with global organizations like Singapore General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
Sakif Shamim says that Labaid is not just a healthcare provider—it is a platform for transformation. His ultimate goal is to bring a fundamental change to the medical sector in Bangladesh. He believes that with the right infrastructure and partnerships, Bangladeshis will no longer have to go abroad for treatment. Instead, Bangladesh will be able to attract patients from neighboring countries. His ambitious plan is to turn the Labaid Group into a $10 billion corporation within the next five years. This would allow them to deliver world-class healthcare to about 7–8 million people annually within three to four years. According to Sakif Shamim, world-class healthcare is not a luxury but the right of every human being.
