Only 30,311 doctors are currently working in government hospitals across Bangladesh, while the country needs around 88,909 physicians to meet the minimum doctor-to-population ratio in line with international standards, said Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain on Monday.
“According to a government-funded study conducted in 2026, Bangladesh will need around 88,909 doctors in 2026 to meet the WHO’s minimum standard of 0.50 doctors per 1,000 population,” he told parliament.
The minister made the remarks while replying to a scripted question from ruling BNP lawmaker Md Jahander Ali Mia (Madaripur-2) during the question-and-answer session in parliament.
The sitting began around 3pm with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, in the chair.
The health minister said the total number of approved posts for doctors is 41,806 in government hospitals, of which 30,311 doctors are currently working, leaving 11,495 posts vacant.
He said international and national health workforce standards are taken into consideration when determining the number of doctors required in proportion to the country's population.
The total number of doctors in the country and the number working in the government healthcare system are not the same, he said.
He said the government has already taken various recruitment initiatives to fill vacant posts in government healthcare institutions and increase the number of doctors.
“A significant number of doctors have been recruited through the 44th and 48th special BCS examinations, while the recruitment of assistant surgeons through the 45th, 46th, 47th and 50th BCS examinations is also underway,” he said.
The minister said the government will continue its ongoing recruitment process to gradually fill vacant posts in government healthcare institutions.
He said new posts would also be created as necessary to ensure accessible, quality, and people-friendly healthcare services for the country's population.