Nearly 29% of Health Worker Posts Vacant in Government Hospitals; Recruitment Underway

A significant portion of approved health worker positions in government hospitals across the country remain unfilled, with nearly 29 percent of posts vacant, the Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain informed parliament. A total of 18,947 out of 65,230 approved positions are currently empty.

The minister detailed the vacancies across various roles. Doctor positions show a 22 percent vacancy rate, with 42,806 approved posts and 33,399 filled. Nurses have a lower vacancy rate of 9.2 percent, with 45,302 of 49,879 posts filled. However, Family Welfare Assistants (FWA) and Family Welfare Visitors (FWV) face higher vacancy rates of 35.3 percent and 49.7 percent, respectively. Community Health Care Providers (CHCP) are in the strongest position with a 96.3 percent occupancy rate.

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The vacant posts will be filled after completing the recruitment process very soon.

To address these shortages, the government is undertaking a rapid recruitment drive. This includes filling positions through various BCS examinations, with over 3,000 doctors slated for recruitment. Additionally, 100,000 new health workers are being hired to bolster preventive healthcare, approximately 80 percent of whom will be women. The plan also includes recruiting 25,000 midwives over the next three to four years to improve rural and maternal healthcare.

In a significant move to strengthen pediatric services, the government has launched a mega project to establish five specialized children's hospitals. Each 200-bed facility will be built in Khulna, Barishal, Rangpur, Rajshahi, and Cumilla divisions, equipped with ICUs and central air-conditioning.

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The process of rapidly recruiting 5,000 MBBS doctors is underway to expand healthcare services.