After Chattogram, the railway hospitals in Dhaka, Rajshahi, and Saidpur are set to come under the joint management of the Health Services Division and Bangladesh Railway.
The decision was made during a meeting held on Monday at the Railway Rest House in Kamalapur, Dhaka, involving the Health Services Division under the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Railways and the Finance Division.
Earlier, on April 21 this year, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ministry of Railways and the Health Services Division to bring railway hospitals under joint management.
Following this, a central management committee was formed to oversee operations of these hospitals.
Based on the committee’s recommendation, the meeting was held to ensure effective and coordinated healthcare delivery through collaboration among the Finance Division, Health Services Division and the Railways Ministry.
Currently, the Chattogram Railway Hospital and National Institute of Diseases of the Chest and Hospital have been merged and are being jointly operated under the name Chattogram Railway General Hospital.
During the meeting, a 100-day special action plan was approved to define the responsibilities of the three concerned departments for the smooth and efficient operation of the newly included hospitals.
Officials said other hospitals under the control of Bangladesh Railway will also gradually come under joint management.
These facilities will offer healthcare services not only to railway employees and their dependents but also to the general public.