Health News

Health minister warns tough stance against middlemen in public hospitals

04 Mar, 2026 :
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain today announced a strict stance against broker syndicates in government hospitals across the country.
“We will not allow anyone to engage in brokerage inside hospitals. There will be no opportunity to illegally collect money from patients in the name of trolley rent or by any other means. We will maintain a zero-tolerance policy to ensure broker-free hospitals. Middlemen will be dealt with firmly,” he told reporters.
The minister made the remarks during a surprise visit to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) in the capital.
During the inspection, he visited several wards of the old building, the emergency departments operation theatre and the burn unit. Noticing several irregularities, he instructed the hospital director to take immediate corrective measures.
Talking to the journalists after the visit, the minister said the patient load at DMCH far exceeds its capacity, creating challenges in maintaining service quality. Facilities are inadequate compared to the number of patients and there is a shortage of doctors, nurses and staff, he added.
Commenting on the hospital environment and management, he noted that while the earlier problem of cockroach-infested beds has decreased, there are complaints that patients are not receiving all necessary medicines.
Expressing dissatisfaction over cleanliness, he said bed sheets and other hospital linens are not being properly cleaned. He directed the hospital authorities to deduct bills if proper cleaning standards are not maintained in the future.
He further stated that payments would be withheld for substandard work. The government is working on a comprehensive “big plan” to ensure proper utilization of limited resources and to bring healthcare services to the peoples doorsteps.

Govt to procure Anti-TB drug

10 Feb, 2026 :
The Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase today recommended approval of a proposal for procuring some 5,38,65,000 Anti-TB drugs (4FDC) under the revenue budget to strengthen tuberculosis control efforts.
The Health Services Division proposed the purchase of 5,38,65,000 units of Anti-TB Drug (4FDC) under Package No GR-2557 at a total cost of Taka 77.57 crore. M/S Reneta PLC has been selected as the supplier.
The approval came from the 6th meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase held today at the Cabinet Division Conference Room at Bangladesh Secretariat today with Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed in the chair.
Health officials said the procurement will ensure uninterrupted availability of life-saving medicines across government health facilities and support the national TB elimination programme.
The days meeting also recommended approval of a proposal to procure 14.82 lakh GeneXpert Cartridges through the Direct Procurement Method (DPM) at a cost of Taka 237.12 crore. The cartridges will be supplied by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) to ensure uninterrupted diagnostic services, particularly for TB and other infectious diseases.
The committee further allowed the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education to approve the renewal of 11 contracts with Grameenphone Limited for providing internet connectivity to 40,586 government primary schools under the Fourth Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP-4).
Officials said the decisions reflect the governments commitment to strengthening health services, education infrastructure and energy planning through transparent procurement processes.

Nurjahan calls for increased NGO activities in health sector

30 Jan, 2026 :
Health and Family Welfare Adviser Nurjahan Begum has called upon private organizations, particularly NGOs, to increase their activities in the health sector alongside the government to ensure health services reach marginalized communities.
"NGOs are already involved in areas such as maternal and child health, non-communicable diseases, elderly health care, and control of tobacco and tobacco product use. I hope NGOs would continue to work alongside the government to ensure health services reach marginalized communities," she said.
The adviser made these remarks as the chief guest at a views-exchange meeting titled "NGO Engagement in Health Services", held at the conference room of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter and Chief Advisers Special Assistant for Health and Family Welfare Ministry Professor Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman spoke as the special guests with Health Secretary Md Saidur Rahman in the chair.
In her speech, Farida Akhter emphasized the need to train midwives to prevent maternal and child mortality, noting that across the country-especially in rural areas-there is heavy reliance on midwives.
She also said that focusing solely on environmental movements is not enough; awareness activities to prevent non-communicable diseases must be increased.
Speakers at the meeting stressed the importance of giving attention to mental health and eye health. They also highlighted the need to ensure that fast-food shops are not located near educational institutions. They pointed out that child marriage affects not only girls but also boys, who are being married off at an early age, and emphasized the need to work on this issue as well.
The speakers underscored the necessity of Universal Health Coverage and expressed hope that health service centers would become more patient-friendly.
At the event, on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, a special honor was awarded to Valerie Ann Taylor, planner and founder of Bangladeshs voluntary physiotherapy organization, the Center for the Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed (CRP).

Bangladesh Thalassaemia Samity partners with Cool Exposure

Bangladesh Thalassaemia Samity (BTS) has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with leading media and communication firm Cool Exposure to enhance its public outreach and brand identity. The agreement was formalized during a signing ceremony at Rainy Roof Restaurant in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka.
Representing Cool Exposure, Chief Executive Officer Ershadul Huq Tinku signed the MoU, while Engineer M A Matin, President of Bangladesh Thalassaemia Samity, signed on behalf of BTS.
Under the partnership, Cool Exposure will lead comprehensive Public Relations (PR), branding, and rebranding efforts for BTS. The collaboration aims to transform the organization public image, secure consistent media visibility, and amplify its mission to raise awareness about thalassaemia prevention, treatment, and support for affected families across Bangladesh.
Key attendees from BTS included Treasurer Engineer Mohammad Habibur Rahman, Publicity Secretary Abdur Rahim, and Marketing Manager Shubho Kumar Mahanta. From Cool Exposure, Communication Head Arnab Chowdhury and Head of Events Iftekhar Lenin were present.
Both parties expressed strong confidence that this alliance will significantly boost effective communication strategies in healthcare advocacy and social awareness. By leveraging Cool Exposure expertise in integrated media campaigns, BTS expects to reach wider audiences, engage communities more actively, and strengthen advocacy for early screening, blood donation drives, and improved patient care.
This partnership marks a vital step in modernizing BTS outreach in an era of growing digital and traditional media influence, ultimately supporting the national fight against thalassaemia—a genetic blood disorder affecting thousands of Bangladeshi families.