Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain told parliament on Thursday that Bangladesh records approximately 167,256 new cancer cases and 116,598 cancer deaths each year, citing the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s GLOBOCAN 2022 report. About 316,417 people are currently living with or receiving treatment for cancer in the country.
The minister gave the figures in written replies to questions from MPs tabled during the morning session of the Jatiya Sangsad, presided over by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram.
The minister said breast cancer and cervical cancer are the most common cancers among women in Bangladesh, while lung cancer and oral/lip cancer are most prevalent among men. A population-based and a hospital-based cancer registry are being developed through the National Cancer Research Institute and Hospital to build a reliable data foundation. Cancer treatment units of 100 beds each are being established at eight divisional government medical college hospitals to expand radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgical oncology services at the divisional level.
In response to other questions, the minister said 14,460 community clinics are currently operating nationwide, with plans to construct 540 more in areas that currently lack them, subject to land availability and budget allocation. He added that approximately 4,353 mothers die per 100,000 live births in Bangladesh and that no state compensation is provided to the families of mothers who die in childbirth.
The minister also revealed that 41,806 medical officer posts are approved across government hospitals, of which 9,407 are currently vacant. He said 485 machines in 310 hospitals are out of service — 40 per cent beyond repair, with tenders issued for the remaining 60 per cent. A further 395 ultrasound machines in 252 hospitals are non-functional, 35 per cent beyond repair. Separately, he said Dhaka’s public hospitals regularly admit four to five times more patients than their approved bed capacity, making maintaining toilet cleanliness a persistent challenge. He also announced that 100,000 healthcare workers will be recruited under the party’s election manifesto.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report