Five more nuclear medicine institutes to expand advanced healthcare at grassroots
The government has moved to establish five new Institutes of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS) at medical college hospitals in different regions, aimed at bringing advanced diagnostic and treatment services for cancer and other complex diseases to the grassroots level.
The new INMAS facilities will be established at Sunamganj Medical College and Hospital, Tangail Medical College and Hospital, Noakhali Medical College and Hospital, Patuakhali Medical College and Hospital, and Shaheed Syed Nazrul Islam Medical College Hospital in Kishoreganj.
The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) under the Ministry of Science and Technology will implement the project by June 2030.
According to the Development Project Proposal (DPP), the four-year project has an estimated cost of Tk 535.54 crore, which will be financed entirely from government funds.
The project is awaiting approval by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), said a Planning Commission official.
Talking to BSS, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr MA Muhit said the project has been taken as part of the government's broader initiative to decentralise specialised healthcare and make cancer-related services more accessible to people across the country.
"As we are seeing a significant rise in cancer cases and many people are dying from the disease, the government is taking various programmes for cancer prevention and treatment," he said, adding that most cancer patients currently have to travel to Dhaka to receive specialised treatment.
"Thus, we want to decentralise these services so that people can receive cancer treatment, at least within their own divisions," the state minister said.
According to the project document, the move has been aimed at reducing the people's dependence on capital-centric healthcare by expanding specialised services at medical college hospital campuses across different regions.
The project is also intended to ensure international-standard modern nuclear medicine services and affordable healthcare facilities for the people at grassroots.
The new INMAS facilities are expected to provide nuclear medicine services for diseases affecting the thyroid, kidney, liver, heart and other organs, as well as different types of cancer.
The facilities would also support medical research and development of specialised human resources.
The project comes as Bangladesh seeks to expand nuclear medicine services beyond the existing network.
Bangladesh currently has 37 medical colleges while BAEC has already established INMAS facilities at 22 government medical college and hospital campuses, the project document said, adding that the remaining medical college campuses would need to be brought under a phased expansion programme.
According to the project document, INMAS facilities have been established at 13 government medical college and hospital campuses, including in Dhaka, Mitford, Chattogram, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Khulna, Faridpur, Bogura, Sylhet, Cumilla and Barishal.
In addition, seven more INMAS facilities are at Suhrawardy, Pabna, Kushtia, Jashore, Satkhira, Gopalganj and Cox's Bazar medical college hospital campuses, along with another facility at the Mohakhali TB Hospital campus.
The Bangladesh Medical University also has the National Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (NINMAS).
The five new facilities were selected after the authorities obtained space from the respective medical college and hospital authorities, the document said, adding that geographical location, population and healthcare needs were considered in selecting the sites.
The institutes would be equipped with modern nuclear medicine and diagnostic technologies, including Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (PET-CT), Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography-Computed Tomography (SPECT-CT), SPECT, Bone Mineral Density (BMD), 4D Ultrasound and Colour Doppler and thyroid scanners.
The project will involve construction of the five institutes, procurement of domestic and imported equipment, human-resource development and training, recruitment of personnel, procurement of furniture and acquisition of vehicles.
Of the total project cost, about Taka 498.08 crore, or 93 percent, would be earmarked for capital expenditure, while revenue expenditure is estimated at about Taka 17.54 crore.
The proposal includes Taka 173.50 crore in foreign-currency expenditure, primarily for imported equipment and related items.
According to the document, a feasibility study was conducted by Participatory Action Research of Human Advancement (PARA), and the project was formulated in line with recommendations from the study.
The Planning Commission's Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) discussed the proposal on May 10, 2026 and recommended it subject to compliance with its observations. The DPP was subsequently revised and resubmitted to the commission.
The PEC had sought, among other things, detailed justification for licensing and insurance costs, specifications and quantities of imported and locally procured equipment, compliance with public procurement rules and a clear exit plan for operating the facilities after project completion.
It also recommended appointing an experienced full-time project director within one month of project approval.
The revised proposal also includes a detailed implementation schedule and provisions for continued operation of the infrastructure and services after completion.
The Planning Commission has recommended placing the project before ECNEC for consideration and approval.
Source: BSS