Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain on Saturday announced that all community clinics across the country will be renamed family welfare centres as part of plans to expand healthcare services at union level.
He made the announcement while outlining the government’s plans to improve healthcare infrastructure and services during surprise visits to several health facilities in Mymensingh.
Earlier in the day, the minister visited Fulbaria and Tarakanda Upazila Health Complexes before inspecting Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, where he expressed dissatisfaction over various irregularities, including medical equipment found in a garbage dump and doctors and nurses failing to report to work on time.
During his visit to the hospital around noon, he inspected the labour ward, measles isolation ward and dengue ward. He also examined the quality of treatment, the ward environment and the condition of washrooms.
The minister expressed anger after finding rubbish on the ground floor of the hospital's new building. He also ordered a swift investigation and the submission of a report into the discovery of used cannulas, syringes and other medical equipment in the hospital's garbage dump.
He said action would be taken against those found negligent in their duties, including staff who failed to arrive at the hospital on time. The minister also questioned why a patient in the gynaecology ward had to purchase saline from outside and instructed the hospital authorities to take necessary measures.
He further sought an explanation for the delay in submitting an investigation report into a fire at the hospital more than a month ago. The authorities told him that the report has been delayed due to holidays.
Earlier, during his visits to Fulbaria and Tarakanda Upazila Health Complexes, he said the government planned to upgrade both health complexes to 151-bed facilities.
A large-scale tendering process worth around Tk 16,000 crore for the health sector would be launched within the next 15 to 20 days, he said, adding that steps would be taken to ensure the supply of necessary medicines to the community clinics after they are renamed family welfare centres.