250-bed hospital opens in Pabna

A 250-bed specialised community health and heart hospital, built under public-private partnership for advanced treatment of cardiac patients, saw its formal opening at Nurpur Bypass area in the district town yesterday.

Social Welfare Minister Rashed Khan Menon inaugurated the hospital.

“The government has encouraged public-private partnership to develop the health sector for ensuring better medical service to the ultra-poor people,” the minister said at the programme.

“The government alone cannot ensure health facilities for the vast population of Bangladesh, so non-governmental organisations need to come forward to mitigate health problems of underprivileged people,” he said.

The social welfare ministry provided partial financial assistance to Dhaka Community Hospital Trust (DCH Trust) to launch Pabna Community Health and Heart Hospital as such initiatives have been encouraged everywhere in the country to ensure better health service for all, he added.

Chairman of DCH Trust Prof Dr Quazi Quamruzzaman chaired the inaugural function while Pabna Deputy Commissioner Md Jasim Uddin and Superintendent of Police Jihadul Kabir, spoke as the special guests.

Among others, DCH Trustee Member Saidur Rahman, Director of Pabna Community Health and Heart Hospital Dr Tahsin Begum, and Principal of Pabna Medical College Dr Riazul Haque spoke on the occasion.

DCH Trust Coordinator Prof Dr Mahmudur Rahman read out the keynote paper on the occasion.

Established in 1988, the DCH Trust has played a vital role in the health sector of the district since 1996, when it started research work on arsenic contamination in the district and also introduced health camps and regular health check up of the patients in the district.

“We have worked with the people of Pabna during last three decades with limited facility, and the newly built hospital will play a vital role in developing the health sector in the district and providing advanced medical service with modern facilities at low cost,” Dr Qazi Quamruzzaman said.

“At the initial stage, 12 doctors will provide treatment in medicine, paediatric, gynaecology, surgery and orthopaedic departments. Specialised cardiac treatment will start soon,” he added.