Government to Recruit 5,000 Doctors and 100,000 Health Workers Under Expanded Healthcare Plan

The government has announced plans to recruit 5,000 MBBS doctors immediately to fill long-standing vacancies in the public healthcare system, alongside a nationwide initiative to hire 100,000 health workers.

The announcement was made by Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury while presenting the national budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year in Parliament on Thursday.

According to the finance minister, the recruitment drive aims to address chronic shortages of medical professionals in government health institutions and improve healthcare services across the country.

He also revealed that a new competency-based MBBS curriculum will be introduced, incorporating integrated modular learning, modern clinical education methods, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in medical training and knowledge management.

As part of efforts to strengthen the healthcare workforce, the government plans to recruit approximately 100,000 health workers nationwide, with women expected to make up around 80 percent of the new workforce.

The minister highlighted measures to expand higher education and professional development opportunities in nursing and midwifery, including increased access to bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in nursing.

To create employment opportunities for educated unemployed youth and meet growing domestic and international demand, a four-month General Caregiver Training Program has also been launched. The government expects the initiative to help develop a skilled workforce for the rapidly expanding global caregiving sector.

In addition, the government is moving to develop the medical equipment and medical device industry as a priority sector. The broader objective is to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, improve access to quality medicines, and gradually establish universal health coverage.

For the 2026-27 fiscal year, the government has proposed an allocation of Tk 69,409 crore for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, equivalent to 1.10 percent of GDP. The finance minister described it as the largest healthcare budget ever proposed in the country's history.