The government has planned to set up maternity-child hospitals in every district in the country to ensure proper treatment for mothers and children. The hospitals will have the capacity to accommodate 30 to 50 beds.

"In every district, 30 to 50 bed mother-child hospitals will be set up soon. If this is done, maternity and financial problems for the treatment of mothers and children will be resolved," Health Minister Zahid Maleque said.

"We have taken the decision to ensure treatment for mothers and children separately. Already, 24-hour health services have been arranged for would-be mothers in several hundred health centres," he added.

Describing the incumbent government's contribution to the health sector, Zahid Maleque said the government has established 14,000 community clinics and has been providing 32 types of drugs totally free of cost for people in remote areas.

He said the government is constructing 15-storey specialised cancer hospitals with the latest facilities to ensure better treatment for people.

Five new medical universities, 37 medical colleges, and 22 health institutions have been set up by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he added.

Mentioning that the number of beds has been doubled in every district hospital, the minister said 10-bed dialysis units have been set up in district hospitals, and the number of beds has also been increased in upazila hospitals.