Bangladesh’s only super specialized hospital, launched in 2022 in Dhaka’s Shahbagh with promises of world-class treatment at low cost, remains largely nonfunctional due to corruption, mismanagement, and severe staffing shortages. Despite being inaugurated before completion, most specialized services such as kidney and liver transplants, cardiology, and cancer care are inactive. The hospital, built at a cost of about Tk 1,560 crore with South Korean funding, now operates with minimal staff and limited services.

Multiple reports detail irregularities in recruitment, procurement, and training programs. The Anti-Corruption Commission found evidence of misuse of funds, fake recruitment, and sending unnecessary personnel abroad for training. Around 80 percent of medical equipment worth Tk 283 crore has never been used, and some have already deteriorated. Patients complain of high costs comparable to private hospitals despite poor service quality.

Officials say full operation requires new laws and large-scale recruitment. The administration is reviewing previous recruitment processes and exploring ways to engage expatriate Bangladeshi specialists, but no timeline has been set for full activation.