Government to install cath labs in every upazila hospital by December

The government will install specialised heart treatment labs, known as cardiac catheterisation (Cath) labs, in every upazila hospital across Bangladesh by the end of this year.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain announced the plan during a special event for World Population Day at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka. President Mohammed Shahabuddin also attended the meeting as the chief guest.

The Health Minister explained that the government is taking strict action against dishonest medical practices. The ministry wants to stop public suffering caused by wrong medical tests and poor diagnostic clinics. To support this, the government is training skilled technicians to run the new heart laboratories safely. He emphasised that the nation must focus on raising a healthy and capable younger generation. He also noted that the older generation must prepare skilled youth to lead the country, protect the economy, and eliminate unfairness in society.

To bring better healthcare directly to remote villages, the government is launching massive renovation projects during this fiscal year. Every community clinic, Family Welfare Centre, and health assistant centre will be repaired and upgraded with advanced medical testing tools.

The government is also currently hiring 100,000 new health workers under orders from the Prime Minister.

Out of these new hires, 80,000 will be women health workers. These workers will visit homes to provide medical counselling to mothers during pregnancy and after childbirth. This initiative aims to help mothers have safe deliveries, promote healthy breastfeeding, and ensure children get proper nutrition.

Sakhawat also shared an important update for kidney patients. The government is opening 50-bed dialysis centres at every district medical college hospital.

Additionally, smaller 10-bed dialysis centres are being set up at every upazila hospital. These local centres mean that low-income patients will no longer have to spend time and money travelling to Dhaka or other large cities for routine kidney treatments.

Several top health officials spoke at the event to support the new plans. This group included State Minister for Health Dr. MA Muhith, Health Secretary Md. Kamruzzaman Chowdhury, and senior directors from the national health and family planning departments.