Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain today (22 April) informed parliament that some 37 government medical colleges have so far been established in 34 districts across the country, as part of efforts to strengthen human resource development, public health protection, and the expansion and modernisation of medical and nursing education.

The minister said this while responding to a starred tabled question from ruling party lawmaker Lutfur Rahman (Cox’s Bazar-3) in the House today, with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, in the chair.

He said there are currently 37 government medical colleges in these 34 districts. 

The districts include Dhaka, Chattogram, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Barishal, Rangpur, Cumilla, Khulna, Bogura, Faridpur, Dinajpur, Pabna, Noakhali, Cox’s Bazar, Jashore, Satkhira, Kishoreganj, Kushtia, Gopalganj, Gazipur, Tangail, Jamalpur, Manikganj, Sirajganj, Patuakhali, Rangamati, Habiganj, Netrokona, Nilphamari, Naogaon, Magura, Chandpur and Sunamganj.

Sakhawat added that there are still 30 districts where no government medical college has yet been established.

These districts are Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Munshiganj, Rajbari, Shariatpur, Madaripur, Brahmanbaria, Feni, Lakshmipur, Khagrachhari, Bandarban, Natore, Chapainawabganj, Joypurhat, Bagerhat, Jhenaidah, Narail, Chuadanga, Meherpur, Bhola, Pirojpur, Jhalokathi, Barguna, Moulvibazar, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon and Sherpur.

However, the minister noted that feasibility studies are currently underway to establish government medical colleges in eight districts: Munshiganj, Brahmanbaria, Thakurgaon, Natore, Narsingdi, Bhola, Sherpur and Lakshmipur.

He emphasised that the government has taken extensive plans under the visionary leadership of the prime minister to expand and improve the quality of healthcare education and services nationwide.