‘Shishu Hospital Bill’ placed in JS

The Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute Bill 2021 was placed in parliament yesterday to provide better healthcare services to children.

Health Minister Zahid Maleque placed the bill, which was sent to the respective parliamentary standing committee for further examination.

The parliamentary watchdog was asked to submit its report before the House within seven working days.

The bill was designed in line with the Dhaka Children Hospital Ordinance 2008.

The draft law was prepared to merge Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital and Bangladesh Institute of Child Health for ensuring better healthcare services for children. Bangladesh Institute of Child Health is the academic wing of Dhaka Shishu Hospital.

The Dhaka Shishu Hospital Ordinance was promulgated during the caretaker government in 2008.

Some 54 ordinances out of 122, promulgated during the caretaker government, were approved in parliament following the recommendations of the special committee of the 9th parliament.

But the Dhaka Shishu Hospital Ordinance and 67 others were not endorsed at that time.

As per 21 articles of the draft law, there will be a 12-member board of directors to run the hospital as an autonomous body. A director of the hospital would be the executive officer of the hospital while each director would be appointed for three years.