Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed authorities to ensure improved, accessible and effective healthcare services for people living in rural and marginalised communities, stressing that government hospitals must become the most trusted destination for medical treatment across the country.

The directives came during a high-level review meeting at the Ministry of Health on Monday, where the prime minister discussed the current state of the healthcare sector, ongoing reforms and future development plans with senior officials and healthcare administrators.

At the meeting, officials briefed the prime minister on the progress made in the health sector since the present government assumed office. Discussions also focused on the challenges facing public healthcare services, particularly at the grassroots level.

Expressing concern over reports of negligence and inadequate service delivery at some upazila health complexes, Tarique Rahman instructed the authorities to take necessary measures against those found failing to perform their duties properly.

People in villages should not be compelled to travel long distances in search of treatment. Quality healthcare, essential medicines and diagnostic facilities must be available at government hospitals closer to their homes, the prime minister said.

He emphasised that public hospitals should be transformed into dependable institutions where citizens can receive treatment without unnecessary hardship.

The meeting also placed special emphasis on improving services for kidney patients. To reduce the suffering of those requiring regular dialysis, the prime minister announced plans to expand existing district-level dialysis facilities from 10-bed units to 50-bed centres in phases.

He further said the government aims to establish dialysis services at the upazila level nationwide within the next three years, ensuring that patients can access treatment closer to their communities.

To support the initiative, he directed the relevant authorities to develop skilled manpower, strengthen infrastructure and ensure adequate logistical support.

Another key agenda of the meeting was the government's plan to upgrade upazila health complexes from 51 beds to 101 beds. Officials discussed requirements related to infrastructure expansion, staffing and modern medical facilities, while engineers from the Public Works Department presented proposed designs and development plans.

The meeting was attended by Health Minister Bir Muktijoddha Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain, State Minister MA Muhith, senior officials of the ministry, and directors and top administrators from Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh Medical University and several other major public hospitals in the capital.

Healthcare experts believe that successful implementation of the proposed measures could significantly improve medical services in rural Bangladesh, reducing pressure on urban hospitals while ensuring better access to treatment for millions of people across the country.