More than 1,000 new hospital beds are set to be added to Bangladesh’s public healthcare system as the government expands capacity to meet rising demand for treatment.

The health ministry has already approved 365 additional beds for three public hospitals and the operationalisation of a 20-bed trauma centre, officials said.

It is also preparing to approve another 700 beds in four children’s hospitals in Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal and Cumilla, which are expected to become operational within the next six months.

With the addition of the new 1,065 beds, a total of 2,161 beds is being approved for 17 public hospitals since the BNP assumed office earlier this year.

The health ministry has already approved 365 additional beds for three public hospitals and a 20-bed trauma centre, while another 700 beds for four children’s hospitals are expected to receive approval soon.

However, increasing hospitals’ bed capacity without adequately addressing staffing gaps raises concerns about whether the initiative would bring meaningful improvements in patient care.

A total 9,407 doctor posts -- around 23 percent of the sanctioned physician positions in public hospitals -- remain vacant, according to health ministry data.

On Monday, the health ministry gave administrative approval to the addition of 100 more beds in Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, increasing its capacity to 1,300 beds.

The approval stipulates that all 100 additional beds will be intensive care unit (ICU) beds.

A day earlier, the ministry approved the addition of 150 beds in Joypurhat General Hospital, increasing its bed capacity to 400.

Also, administrative approval was given to add 115 beds to the 135-bed National Institute of ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat), to turn it a 250-bed specialised hospital.

Besides, approval was given to a new 20-bed specialised hospital and trauma centre in Bhairab, Kishoreganj, an official of the ministry said, wishing anonymity.

Meanwhile, the finance ministry has given the nod for adding 700 beds to four children’s hospitals in Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal and Cumilla, and the health ministry is expected to issue administrative approval within the next couple of days, an official said.

The Cumilla hospital will have 100 beds, while three others will have 200 beds each. Another 100-bed children’s hospital in Rangpur had already received administrative approval earlier.

The five children’s hospitals have remained non-operational for more than a year after completion of their buildings due to a shortage of manpower, medical equipment and furniture.

Following media reports, the government took steps to make the hospitals functional by December this year.

The health ministry has already designated the facilities as specialised hospitals and completed the tender process for procuring furniture, which is expected to be supplied within the next two months, sources said.

The tender process for procuring medical equipment has also begun, while a proposed organograms for these hospitals has received clearance from the public administration ministry and awaits finance ministry’s approval, they said.

Meanwhile, the health ministry has also decided in principle to upgrade the 100-bed children’s hospitals in Cumilla and Rangpur to 200-bed facilities.

Contacted, Health Secretary Quamruzzaman Chowdhury said the government was aware of the manpower shortage in public hospitals and had already written to the Bangladesh Public Service Commission to recruit 5,000 more doctors.

Besides, more than 3,000 doctors are expected to join the health service through the ongoing BCS recruitment process, he added.

“We are working to address the existing challenges and make healthcare more accessible to the people,” he added.