Minister's surprise hospital visit; Action against 5 doctors

The minister also directed authorities to bring back seven doctors currently attached to other facilities to their designated workplaces.

Sakhawat Hossain visited the health complex at around 8:30AM and found 12 doctors absent out of a total of 51, according to hospital sources.

During the visit, the minister announced plans to upgrade the facility to a 151-bed hospital, with expanded specialised services aimed at improving healthcare for local residents.

Under the proposed expansion, the hospital will receive 10 dialysis machines, a 20-bed maternity ward and a separate 20-bed facility for newborns. Plans also include separate physiotherapy services for male and female patients and the establishment of a breastfeeding centre.

The minister said the tendering process for the project was expected to be completed within the next 15 to 16 days.

He also assured that doctors would be posted to Muradnagar from among the 448 physicians scheduled to join the health service on November 1.

Although the minister noted improvements in the hospital's overall management, he expressed dissatisfaction with waste disposal and cleanliness inside the facility.

He described the unhygienic environment as a concern for healthcare delivery, stressing that ensuring proper treatment for patients must go hand in hand with maintaining a clean hospital environment.

Addressing the shortage of ambulances, the minister said the government planned to arrange an ambulance for the hospital within the next fiscal year.

The announced measures are aimed at addressing staffing shortages, expanding treatment capacity and improving healthcare services at the upazila-level facility.