Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hussain has said that, under the Prime Minister’s directives, all upazila health complexes across the country will be transformed into modern nine-storey health complexes within the next three years.

“A long-term plan has been taken to upgrade all 50-bed upazila health complexes in the country into 151-bed hospitals within the next three years,” he said while responding to queries from reporters after making surprise visits to the Maheshpur and Kotchandpur upazila health complexes in the district today.

He said the country’s healthcare sector had been seriously neglected during the 17-year rule of the “fascist Awami League government”. “Looting took place in all sectors, and extensive looting also occurred in the healthcare sector. There was a lack of accountability, which disrupted health services,” he said.

Corruption had also taken place in the purchase of medicines for hospitals during the fascist government, Sakhawat said, adding the government wants to bring the country’s health sector and medical system under a new discipline.

“We have undertaken long-term plans to address the shortage of doctors and medicines and to make services easier for patients. We will not compromise in implementing the plans to restore public confidence in government healthcare services,” he continued.

He said that after the 151-bed upazila health complexes are launched, the hospitals will have a special 25-bed ward for pregnant women and a separate 20-bed ward for children. “We have also taken plans to introduce services such as kidney dialysis at these hospitals. Once these are implemented, the country’s health sector and the system of medical services will be transformed,” he said.

Earlier in the morning, the Health Minister visited different wards of the Maheshpur and Kotchandpur upazila health complexes. During the visits, he enquired about the overall condition of patients receiving treatment at the hospitals. He also spoke with patients and their attendants about the quality of healthcare services and food at the hospitals.

Later, he visited the Kaliganj Upazila Health Complex.