Published : 06 Jul 2026, 06:23 AM
Updated : 08 Sep 2026, 11:24 AM
Dhaka's hospitals will remain overwhelmed until quality healthcare becomes available across the country, particularly at the district level, says Nizamuddin Hasan Rashid, managing director of United Healthcare.
United Group is planning to build three to four hospitals with capacities ranging from 100 to 250 beds in district towns to bring quality healthcare closer to patients, Nizamuddin said.
He outlined the expansion plans during an appearance on bdnews24.com's interview programme Chinwag with the Chiefs, streamed on its YouTube channel and Facebook page.
During the interview, he shared his insights on the healthcare sector, United Group’s operations, and the BNP government’s first budget, which allocated Tk 694 billion for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare -- nearly double the previous year's allocation.
Welcoming the funding boost, Nizamuddin said: "The way the budget has been framed this time is highly beneficial for the health sector because a lot of attention has been focused here. Now, it depends on implementation. If the allocated funds are used correctly, it will yield very positive results for the country's healthcare."
He noted that while Bangladesh's healthcare sector is improving, quality medical facilities remain concentrated in major cities like Dhaka, Chattogram, and Rajshahi.
"Until we can establish quality healthcare centres outside these cities, the overcrowding in the capital will persist. We must focus more on developing facilities outside Dhaka," he said.
Highlighting United Medical College Hospital's capacity to handle critical cases, Nizamuddin -- who also serves as the additional managing director (AMD) of United Group -- noted that the hospital features 150 critical care beds and primarily treats complex cases.
"Every hospital has a limit on critical care beds, but our advantage is that we can easily convert any of our beds to serve critical patients at any time," he explained, adding that the hospital currently operates 450 beds with plans to expand to 650.
All beds are equipped with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters and vital medical gas lines, including central oxygen and vacuum systems, he said.
Nizamuddin also elaborated on the hospital's advanced, integrated cancer care services.
"While traditional Linac machines are common for radiation, only CMH and United Medical College Hospital have installed Tomotherapy (Radixact) in Bangladesh. We have also introduced the country's first CyberKnife," he said.
Moreover, United Healthcare is pioneering advanced targeted nuclear medicine therapies locally -- similar to treatments offered in Singapore, Thailand, or India -- which use specific isotopes like Lutetium to target cancer cells directly in organs like the liver or kidneys.
Looking ahead, Nizamuddin expressed a strong desire to venture into manufacturing medical devices, noting a total absence of such local manufacturers despite the presence of world-class pharmaceutical companies in Bangladesh.
"My big dream is to showcase a 'Made in Bangladesh' medical device at the Medica fair in Germany," he said.
Detailing United's regional expansion, he mentioned their existing hospital in Jamalpur, their ancestral home, which remains the only private facility in the Mymensingh region equipped with ICU, CCU, NICU, and PICU facilities.
Addressing perceptions that United Medical College Hospital is prohibitively expensive, Nizamuddin clarified that its outpatient department (OPD) charges start at just Tk 500, and the hospital maintains 40 completely free beds to ensure no patient is turned away.
"In the near future, we want to establish United Medical College Hospital as the number one top referral centre in the country, ensuring people get 100 percent accurate diagnostic services," he said.
