Health Minister Sakhawat Husain conducts surprise inspections of Satkhira healthcare facilities. Photo : BSS

SATKHIRA, July 26, 2026 (BSS) - Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain today conducted surprise inspections of Satkhira Medical College Hospital and several other healthcare facilities in the district.

The minister first inspected Tala Upazila Health Complex in Satkhira, then Satkhira Medical College Hospital, where he toured the hospital's kitchen, washrooms, and various wards, and spoke with patients. He also visited Satkhira Sadar Hospital.

Speaking to journalists after the inspections, the minister said Bangladesh currently has an insufficient number of doctors compared to the growing number of patients, said an official handout. 

He said the previous authoritarian government failed to recruit enough physicians and neglected the healthcare sector.

The minister said the government has decided to upgrade 31-bed and 50-bed hospitals into 101-bed facilities to improve healthcare services. 

He also announced that the number of beds at kidney dialysis centers in all medical college hospitals and district hospitals will be increased, while dialysis centers will be established in hospitals where such facilities do not yet exist.

He further said that physiotherapy services and modern pathology facilities are being introduced at every Upazila Health Complex. In the future, these hospitals will also be provided with 10-bed kidney dialysis units, he said.

In addition, the minister announced that the government will soon begin issuing e-Health Cards to improve healthcare services and patient access.