Health Adviser Dr. Nurjahan Begum announced on Thursday that the government will recruit 3,000 new doctors in September to help bridge a nationwide shortage of medical professionals.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Shaheed Abu Sayeed International Convention Hall, she said the country currently faces a deficit of approximately 7,000 doctors. “This recruitment is a major step toward filling the gap and strengthening our healthcare system,” she said.
In addition, the government has approved 7,000 supernumerary promotions to resolve long-standing disparities among healthcare workers. Senior nurses are also receiving overdue promotions, she added.
Dr. Nurjahan acknowledged delays in ministry operations, attributing them to unresolved legal disputes. “Internal cases between different parties have slowed down processes,” she said, emphasizing that digitalization is now a top priority to ensure transparency and eliminate corruption in recruitment and promotions.
Since the formation of the interim government, the health sector has faced significant challenges, many of which have been addressed, she said. One of the first initiatives was to provide medical care for injured individuals following recent protests. So far, 78 patients have been sent abroad for treatment, including four critically injured patients who were airlifted to Singapore.
On organ transplantation, Dr. Nurjahan confirmed that amendments to the Organ Transplantation Act are nearing completion. “The revised law will allow transplant procedures to be conducted within the country and is expected to be officially announced next week,” she said.
She also revealed that new policy guidelines have been drafted for both public and private medical colleges. Under the plan, underperforming institutions may be merged to improve educational standards and resource efficiency.
Addressing infrastructure gaps, the adviser said many medical college hostels are currently unfit for habitation. To resolve this, the government has approved the construction of 19 new dormitories with the capacity to accommodate up to 10,000 students.
“These steps reflect our commitment to building a more equitable, efficient, and modern healthcare system,” Dr. Nurjahan said.
