In a major leap for cardiac care, the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), the country's premier state-run cardiac hospital, has expanded its treatment capacity by adding 39 new Coronary Care Unit (CCU) beds along with a new 10-bed emergency facility, achieved through cooperation with China.
The NICVD and the Chinese government jointly inaugurated a fully renovated CCU and a modern one-stop emergency centre, marking a remarkable boost to Bangladesh's ability to treat critical heart patients.
As part of the collaboration, the two sides on Tuesday launched the China-Bangladesh Joint Cardiovascular Disease Clinic Unit at NICVD. Under this new cooperation framework, experienced Chinese specialists will also train Bangladeshi doctors, nurses, and technicians.
A skilled medical team from China's Fuwai Yunnan Hospital has already arrived to assist with clinical activities, with the new unit hailed as a milestone in China-Bangladesh health cooperation.
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Health and Family Welfare Adviser Nurjahan Begum, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, Ma Zuoxin of the People's Government of Yunnan Province, and Shi Jinyang of Fuwai Yunnan Hospital attended the launch ceremony.
Speaking at the event, Adviser Nurjahan Begum expressed gratitude to China for its continued support to Bangladesh's health sector. She noted that the new clinic embodies the deep partnership between the two nations and highlighted the government's prioritisation of advanced technology in cardiac treatment and capacity-building for local healthcare professionals.
"We are working to ensure equal access to healthcare for all, regardless of income. When advanced treatment becomes widely available at home, the need to seek care abroad will naturally decline," she said.
Ambassador Yao Wen praised the initiative as "a landmark achievement in China-Bangladesh health cooperation," expressing optimism that both nations will further expand collaboration in public health services, medical innovation, and health-system development-strengthening what he called the 'Health Silk Road'.
