The government is working to set standardized fees for diagnostic tests to reduce healthcare costs, said Prof. Sayedur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Health Minister.

Speaking at Shaheed Abu Sayeed Convention Center on Tuesday, he said the Health Ministry is collaborating with a WHO team to finalize the structure. He added that 10,000 physician posts are vacant nationwide, with 3,000 new doctors to be recruited in the first phase.

The ministry is also finalizing a framework for fair medicine pricing to ease patients’ financial burdens.

Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum has announced that a 560-bed hospital for heart disease, kidney ailments, and cancer treatment has been approved for Rangpur.

Although her government may not be able to start construction, she said the next administration will implement the project.

Speaking on healthcare planning, Nurjahan criticized previous authorities for failing to ensure adequate manpower for hospitals, even when procuring medical equipment. “Hospitals need both equipment and staff. Without proper planning, we cannot suddenly make these facilities operational,” she said.

She also confirmed that decisions regarding the location of a new hospital with Chinese support would be finalized after further site inspections.

“The July revolution brought sacrifices, but those responsible for syndicates have not changed,” she remarked, stressing the need for systematic, step-by-step reform in the healthcare sector.

The Health Department reported that five people died from dengue in the past 24 hours, while 311 others were admitted to hospitals with dengue fever. Among the deceased were three women and two men. This brings the total dengue fatalities this year to 110, including 64 men and 46 women. Between 8 AM Wednesday and 8 AM Thursday, hospital admissions included 112 in Dhaka city hospitals, 42 in the Dhaka division, 37 in Chattogram, 82 in Barishal, 15 in Khulna, 21 in Rajshahi, and 2 in Mymensingh. Since January, 27,782 dengue patients have been hospitalized nationwide.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has underscored the need to build a healthy and resilient new generation despite challenges, saying it is essential for Bangladesh’s development.

“Without skilled and efficient human resources, neither personal lives nor national progress can be ensured,” Yunus said.

Pointing to the growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), he noted that 71% of all deaths in Bangladesh are caused by NCDs, with 51% occurring below the age of 70. Out-of-pocket health spending is around 69%, much of it on NCDs.

He stressed that along with better healthcare, awareness and preventive measures must be strengthened to reduce the burden of these diseases.

Bangladeshi doctors have successfully implanted a venous P-valve in a child heart patient without surgery for the first time in the country. Two more children are scheduled to receive the same procedure on Wednesday.

Additionally, a mitral valve implantation in a child—only the second such case in Bangladesh—will also take place.

The groundbreaking procedures are being carried out during the country’s first National Interventional Pediatric Cardiology Congress, organized by Kids Heart Foundation in Dhaka. Health Ministry’s Special Assistant Professor Dr. Sayedur Rahman attended as chief guest.

The Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) has barred two doctors from Thailand’s Samitivej Hospital—Dr. Nattipat Juthacharoenong and Dr. Lantam Tonvichien—from providing medical services in the country due to the absence of temporary registration.
The Six Seasons Hotel has been instructed to cancel all bookings and suspend medical activities involving the two doctors.
Earlier, on August 14, BMDC imposed a similar ban on an Indian doctor who was offering medical services at the International Convention City Bashundhara without obtaining registration.

Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum has proposed that any future paternity leave policy must carry three mandatory conditions: fathers must spend time with their child, share equally in childcare, and provide support to the mother.

“Paternity leave can be granted, but it should come with written commitments. We must ensure fathers actively take part in child-rearing and maternal care,” she said.

Begum also emphasized reducing reliance on formula milk, stressing the need to promote breastfeeding through better maternal health. She added that healthcare challenges—such as overcrowded hospitals and insufficient midwife training—cannot be solved by blaming doctors alone.

Dhaka – The Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) will cut the prices of coronary stents used in heart treatment, with reductions of Tk 10,000 to Tk 50,000 depending on the model. DGDA director Dr. Md. Akhtar Hossain said the new prices for products from 33 companies will take effect in August or September. The move follows Sunday’s government order lowering prices for 10 types of stents from three companies. Importers say a pricing policy is needed but will comply with the directive.

Starting September 1, Bangladesh will roll out a nationwide free typhoid vaccination drive under the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI).
Children aged between 9 months and 15 years 11 months will receive a single-dose injectable vaccine, which offers protection for 3–7 years. Registration, which began on August 1, will continue until the campaign starts.
According to EPI Program Manager Dr. Abul Fazal, the first 10 working days will target schools, madrasas, and EPI centers, with an additional 8 days for out-of-school children or those who missed earlier doses. Children without birth certificates can register using their parents’ mobile numbers.

A gas cylinder explosion in the Shah Paran area of Sylhet left five members of a single family severely burned. They were rushed to the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute’s emergency ward on Sunday afternoon.

The victims include Parvez (38), his wife Farzana (28), their children Mohammad (6) and Marwan (2), along with relative Hena (28). Dr. Shawon Bin Rahman of the institute reported that Parvez suffered burns on 15% of his body, Farzana on 10%, Mohammad on 4%, Marwan on 17%, and Hena on 7%. All are currently receiving medical treatment.

According to Saiful Islam, who brought them to the hospital, the explosion occurred during cooking in a two-story house due to a gas leak in the cylinder. The injured were initially treated at a local hospital before being transferred here for advanced care.

Protesters, including students and locals, once again blocked the Barishal–Kuakata Highway on Sunday, demanding an end to mismanagement in the healthcare sector, particularly at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and other public hospitals nationwide. Gathering in Nothullabad, demonstrators accused hospital syndicates of depriving ordinary citizens of proper treatment, leading to harassment and suffering for patients and their families. They vowed to continue the Barishal blockade until irregularities in the health sector are addressed. The protest has now entered its 14th day, with no visible action from authorities.

Bangladesh has recorded three new dengue-related deaths in the past 24 hours — two women aged 60 and 13, and a 23-year-old man. Additionally, 325 patients were hospitalized with dengue fever during the same period. According to the Directorate General of Health Services, new admissions included 66 in Barishal Division (excluding city corporations), 95 in Dhaka city, 49 in other parts of Dhaka Division, 54 in Chattogram Division, 41 in Rajshahi Division, 14 in Khulna Division, and six in Mymensingh Division. The total dengue death toll this year has reached 98.

Health Services Division Secretary Saidur Rahman has said that job security in public hospitals often results in patients not receiving adequate services. He stressed that positive reforms in hospital management could remove barriers to quality care. He called for a structured approach to improving healthcare and urged all health sector stakeholders to implement a three-month action plan to deliver tangible improvements for patients.

From 8 AM Thursday to 8 AM Friday, 190 patients infected with dengue fever transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes were admitted to hospitals, bringing the total number of hospitalizations this year to 23,410. The Directorate General of Health Services reported no deaths in the last 24 hours, though 95 dengue-related deaths have occurred this year. The affected regions in the past day include 40 patients in Barisal division, 50 in Chittagong, 42 in Dhaka South, 21 in Dhaka North, 27 in Dhaka outskirts, 7 in Khulna, and 3 in Mymensingh. July saw the highest number of deaths—41—in a single month.

The government has announced that no new specialized hospitals will be built in Dhaka, with plans instead to construct three such hospitals outside the capital using foreign funding.

Dr. Sayedur Rahman, Special Assistant Professor at the Ministry of Health, stated that this decision is part of a broader strategy to decentralize the healthcare system. Efforts will also be made to strengthen primary healthcare facilities at the union and ward levels across the country.

In this decentralized model, Upazila, District, and Divisional Hospitals will serve as referral centers.

Additionally, a plan is in place to recruit 3,000 new doctors by September, according to a health advisor. The ministry will also propose the formation of a Specialized Pay Board for healthcare workers to boost motivation and performance across the sector.