Pabna Correspondent:

The government is set to transform the country’s historic Pabna Mental Hospital into a world-class Institute and Hospital for Mental Health under a Tk1,365.19 crore project aimed at revolutionising the nation’s psychiatric care, education, and research.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) is scheduled to consider approval for the project on 21 October.

Fully funded by the government, the initiative will be implemented by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under the Health Services Division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The project’s implementation period will run from January 2025 to December 2027, according to a senior Planning Commission official.

Entitled “Transformation of Pabna Mental Hospital into an International Standard Institute and Hospital for Mental Health,” the project aims to elevate the 66-year-old institution into Bangladesh’s first international-standard centre exclusively dedicated to mental health treatment, education, and research.

Located at Hemayetpur in Pabna Sadar, within the Rajshahi division, the upgraded facility will feature state-of-the-art infrastructure, advanced medical equipment, and academic facilities meeting global standards.

Once operational, it will provide comprehensive clinical services alongside postgraduate programmes and pioneering research opportunities.

STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE AND REGIONAL REACH

Established in 1959 on 132 acres of land donated by Thakur Anukul Chandra, Pabna Mental Hospital is the country’s oldest and largest psychiatric institution.

Its strategic location in the northwest positions it ideally to serve patients from surrounding districts who currently travel to Dhaka for treatment.

Officials noted that the transformation will help decentralise psychiatric care, reduce pressure on Dhaka’s overburdened hospitals, and ensure faster, more affordable access to services, particularly for marginalised and rural populations.

The project is also expected to create new jobs and strengthen regional research capacity in mental health.

STATE-OF-THE-ART INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITIES

The upgraded complex will include more than 520,000 square metres of new construction, encompassing residential and non-residential buildings, academic blocks, and specialised treatment units.

It will feature advanced telecommunication and electrical systems and house over 4,000 modern medical devices worth Tk59.19 crore.

Planned facilities include specialised psychiatric wards, child psychiatry and autism centre, rehabilitation units, a halfway house, and a 24-hour emergency department.

Additional amenities such as a psychiatric training and research complex, swimming pool, gardens, art and vocational therapy centres, and recreational spaces will create a therapeutic environment conducive to recovery and holistic well-being.

According to the DGHS, the hospital’s capacity will increase to 1,000 beds by December 2027.

EXPANDING EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

The transformed institute will serve as a premier academic centre for mental health education. It will offer postgraduate degrees including MPhil, MD, and SCPS programmes in psychiatry and clinical psychology.

A dedicated psychiatric laboratory will support doctoral and postdoctoral research, drawing scholars from home and abroad.

Officials said the initiative would establish Pabna as a regional hub for mental health innovation, fostering international collaboration and developing a skilled workforce to address Bangladesh’s growing mental health needs.

TACKLING A NATIONAL HEALTH CHALLENGE

Experts stress that the project comes at a crucial time, as mental health issues continue to rise across Bangladesh.

According to the National Mental Health Survey 2018-2019, approximately 21.5% of the population suffers from mental health disorders, yet over 90% of those affected remain untreated due to stigma and limited facilities.

Dr Shafquat Waheed, director of Pabna Mental Hospital, told journalists that the initiative would transform psychiatric care in the country.

“World-class mental health services are essential for ensuring timely and effective treatment,” he said, adding, “This initiative will allow us to deliver advanced education, training, and research while providing modern, technology-driven patient care.”

GOVERNMENT ENDORSEMENT AND FUTURE OUTLOOK

The Planning Commission has expressed strong support for the proposal, describing it as a “timely and meaningful” measure to strengthen the nation’s mental health infrastructure.

Once approved, the three-year project will expand telemedicine services, enhance treatment capacity, and establish a community-based mental health network across Bangladesh.

Officials added that the upgraded Pabna Institute would ease the burden on key urban facilities such as the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), while setting a model for future regional institutes.