Floating hospital ‘Shasthya Tori’ planned to take healthcare to coastal, char areas: Muhit

Health State Minister Dr MA Muhit said on Friday that the government is planning to launch a floating hospital, ‘Shasthya Tori’, to provide modern healthcare to people living in remote coastal, island and char areas.

He made the remarks while inspecting the plan for the floating hospital under the Babubazar Bridge in the capital.

“The government’s health plan focuses on ensuring healthcare for people in disadvantaged and remote areas. The Health Ministry and the Ministry of Shipping have jointly planned the floating hospital to provide quality treatment to people in coastal, island and char areas,” Muhit said.

He said the vessel would be able to provide modern treatment and surgery for common but complex diseases in 30 to 40 remote upazilas across at least four to five southern districts.

Highlighting the need to make the best use of public resources, Muhit said there had been some successful examples of small-scale floating hospitals operated by private initiatives.

“However, if we can effectively coordinate the limited resources and facilities available to the ministries of shipping and health under government management and develop an integrated water-based healthcare system, it could play a transformative role for coastal communities,” he said.

He said there was significant demand in rural areas for women’s healthcare, safe deliveries and postnatal care through midwives, child healthcare, general orthopaedic surgery and cataract operations.

Specialist medical teams will be formed to provide these services to people in remote areas through the vessel, he added.

Rajib Ahsan said providing healthcare through alternative means to disadvantaged people in remote chars in Barishal, Noakhali, Bhola, Patuakhali and Barguna had been under consideration for a long time.

“Our main goal is to ensure healthcare at the doorsteps of people who cannot travel to district hospitals or Dhaka for treatment even when they need it,” he said.

State Minister for Shipping Rajib Ahsan, Health Services Division Secretary Dr ANM Bazlur Rashid, Health Education and Family Welfare Division Secretary AKM Benjamin Riazi and senior officials of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority were present during the inspection.