Beyond Dhaka: A Smarter Future for Bangladesh’s Healthcare

In a significant development, the Bangladeshi government has announced plans to establish a large public hospital in Purbachal, on the outskirts of Dhaka, with assistance from China. This initiative aims to enhance the country’s healthcare infrastructure and provide an alternative destination for medical treatment, particularly for those facing visa challenges with neighbouring countries. While commendable, it highlights the on-going Dhaka-centric approach to development, which exacerbates congestion, overpopulation and infrastructure strain. 

Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain confirmed that China will build the facility on government-owned land, ensuring access to advanced medical care, while also designating hospitals in Kunming to serve Bangladeshi nationals requiring treatment abroad. 

However, concentrating such large-scale projects in the Dhaka vicinity further deepens urban challenges and neglects the urgent need for equitable healthcare distribution. Historically, centralised development in Dhaka has fuelled urban sprawl and regional disparities. To ensure sustainable growth and equitable access to healthcare, a decentralised approach is imperative, fostering regional development while alleviating the capital’s infrastructural pressure. Establishing medical hubs in other regions will not only improve accessibility but also promote balanced national development, reducing dependency on Dhaka as the sole provider of essential services.

Equitable access to quality healthcare is a fundamental right, yet the centralisation of healthcare infrastructure in Dhaka limits access for those in remote and economically disadvantaged regions. For example, Chattogram, despite its significant population and economic activities, lacks advanced medical facilities comparable to Dhaka. People from the southern regions often endure long, costly journeys for specialised treatment, delaying medical attention and increasing financial burdens. A decentralised strategy would address this disparity by making quality healthcare available across all regions, reducing inequality and improving national health outcomes.

A comprehensive medical hub requires more than just hospital infrastructure; it demands residential facilities for healthcare professionals, educational institutions for their families and efficient transportation networks. Without addressing these needs, Purbachal could face unplanned urban sprawl, similar to other parts of Dhaka. Countries such as Germany and Japan place medical hubs in suburban and secondary cities with direct transport links, ensuring accessibility while preventing overburdening of the capital. 

Bangladesh must adopt a holistic planning approach that integrates all necessary services and infrastructure. Additionally, multicultural inclusivity in healthcare infrastructure must be considered, ensuring services cater to diverse linguistic, cultural and social needs. With growing numbers of foreign patients and professionals, Bangladesh’s healthcare system should reflect global standards and welcome medical tourism and cross-border collaboration.

Decentralising healthcare infrastructure offers multiple benefits, including economic stimulation and employment creation while reducing migration pressure on the capital. Cities like Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet possess the potential to host such projects, providing ample land and an environment conducive to planned development. 

Additionally, nearby localities such as Savar, Hemayetpur, Nabi Nagar and Manikganj can also be considered for their proximity to Dhaka, allowing easier access while simultaneously alleviating congestion. The successful development of Gazipur industrial area demonstrates how decentralised initiatives can spur regional progress. If applied to healthcare, regions adjacent to Dhaka could become thriving medical zones, reducing dependency on the capital while enhancing national healthcare coverage.

Developing a well-rounded business infrastructure surrounding these medical hubs is critical for their long-term sustainability and success. This includes the establishment of hotels, budget lodgings and service apartments to accommodate patients and their families, particularly those requiring long-term treatments. Additionally, pharmaceutical companies, medical equipment suppliers and research labs should be encouraged to set up operations in these areas to create a self-sufficient healthcare ecosystem. 

Educational institutions such as medical colleges, nursing schools and paramedical training centres should be established to produce skilled workforce. Commercial hubs with supermarkets, pharmacies, restaurants, and wellness centres would further support the needs of patients, healthcare professionals and visitors. Efficient transport and emergency medical services, including air ambulances and specialised trauma care, are essential to ensure accessibility. 

Financial institutions offering healthcare insurance and microfinance services can aid affordability, while sustainable waste management systems should be developed to handle medical and biomedical waste responsibly. Investing in these interconnected sectors will not only strengthen the healthcare industry but also create employment opportunities and spur economic growth, ensuring that decentralisation efforts are both feasible and beneficial to the wider community.

It is high time to plan future initiatives outside Dhaka and improve the communication system for better accessibility. Investing in modern transportation networks such as high-speed rail, better road connectivity and expanded domestic airports can significantly enhance access to decentralised healthcare hubs. Efficient transportation infrastructure is crucial for ensuring emergency medical services reach patients in time. 

A well-planned communication system would not only facilitate patient transfers but also promote economic activities by linking rural and suburban areas with major medical and commercial centres. Strategic investments in decentralised development, combined with an efficient communication network, would ensure that healthcare remains accessible and sustainable for all.

The government must immediately implement a long-term national strategy to decentralise healthcare infrastructure, prioritising the establishment of medical hubs in emerging cities and nearby localities. Continued dependence on Dhaka will just deepen disparities, exacerbate urban crises and limit access to essential services for millions. Policymakers must act decisively by allocating resources, enacting supportive policies and incentivising businesses and healthcare institutions to invest beyond the capital. A well-planned healthcare expansion will not only improve patient care and accessibility but will also stimulate economic activity and balanced regional growth. The time for discussions is over; bold actions are required now to create an equitable, sustainable and future-ready healthcare system that serves all Bangladeshis, not just those within Dhaka’s reach.
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The writer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at IUBAT and pursuing a Masters in Human Rights and Multiculturalism at University of South Eastern Norway