Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) has launched the country’s first Robotic Rehabilitation Center at its Super Specialized Hospital, marking a major leap forward in advanced medical care for patients with paralysis and long-term neurological conditions.
The center, equipped with 57 robotic systems including 22 powered by artificial intelligence, will offer precision physiotherapy and rehabilitation services previously unavailable in Bangladesh, according to press release on Sunday.
Around 29 local doctors and physiotherapists have already been trained by a seven-member Chinese expert team to operate the high-tech facility.
Chief Guest Nurjahan Begum, adviser to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, formally inaugurated the centre in the hospital’s basement on Sunday.
She emphasised the need to make the initiative sustainable and to gradually expand it to district-level hospitals. “Many patients in our country live without limbs or with paralysed hands and legs. China has provided 57 robots and trained our doctors. This is a priceless gift, and it must benefit people across Bangladesh,” she said.
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, attending as special guest, said Beijing would continue to stand beside Bangladesh in advancing healthcare. “We are supplying international-standard equipment and will extend further support in the future. China has recently also delivered rapid medical aid for burn victims, including those from the Milestone School and College air accident,” he noted.
Professor Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the chief adviser , expressed confidence that BMU would become a hub for introducing and disseminating cutting-edge medical technologies nationwide.
BMU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Shahinul Alam who presided over the ceremony, called the launch a historic milestone. “With this centre, AI-based healthcare officially begins in Bangladesh. Our vision is to make BMU a smart, AI-driven institution. This facility will also serve as a Training of Trainers hub, ensuring the spread of robotic rehabilitation expertise throughout the country,” he said.
The Robotic Rehabilitation Center will initially treat patients injured during the recent student movement, free of cost, before opening to the general public at affordable fees. Officials said the facility would not only improve patient outcomes but also save millions of dollars in foreign medical expenses.
The project, supported by equipment worth nearly TK 30 crore provided by China, positions Bangladesh among the regional frontrunners in robotic rehabilitation. Health officials said the centre would bring hope to thousands suffering from stroke, spinal cord injuries, and other neurological disorders.
Senior health ministry officials, BMU faculty, doctors, and students attended the inauguration, where a documentary on the centre’s functions was also presented.
