Tax break for new hospitals in backwaters
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Splash
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Long Read
  • Games
  • Epaper
  • More
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Subscribe
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard
SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2022
SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2022
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Splash
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Long Read
  • Games
  • Epaper
  • More
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Subscribe
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
Tax break for new hospitals in backwaters

Budget

Jasim Uddin
01 June, 2021, 11:05 pm
Last modified: 02 June, 2021, 10:54 am

Related News

  • What really drives our low tax-to-GDP ratio! 
  • Trump pays $110,000 fine for blocking New York state tax probe
  • Exporters for continuation of 0.5% source tax for 5 years 
  • Bangladesh improves slightly in the cigarette tax index report
  • Russian fighting destroys, damages nearly 400 hospitals, medical centres, Zelenskiy says

Tax break for new hospitals in backwaters

Investors have to construct either a 200-bed specialised hospital or a 250-bed general hospital

Jasim Uddin
01 June, 2021, 11:05 pm
Last modified: 02 June, 2021, 10:54 am
Infographic: Status of Hospitals in Bangladesh

The government is mulling a 10-year tax break in the next budget for investments in setting up specialised hospitals with a view to ensuring quality health services at an affordable cost, according to the finance ministry and the National Board of Revenue officials.

To get the tax facility, investors have to construct either a 200-bed specialised hospital or a 250-bed general hospital, they said, adding that such an investment will have to be made outside Dhaka, Chattogram, Gazipur and Narayanganj districts.

Currently, almost all specialised hospitals are based in Dhaka and Chattogram cities. The new initiative will encourage investments in peripheries which will provide healthcare services to people in those underserviced areas, according to experts and entrepreneurs.

They said it is part of government initiatives for economic recovery amid the pandemic.

Dr Shafiun Nahin Shimul, an assistant professor at Dhaka University's Institute of Health Economics, told The Business Standard, "It will be a good decision to decentralise healthcare facilities. Almost every specialised hospital is now located in Dhaka and Chattogram metro areas."

Dr Shafiun also said, "The tax holiday facility will encourage private entrepreneurs to focus in this sector."

He also mentioned that the government should announce a special incentive for specialised healthcare professionals to encourage them to go outside the cities, otherwise, periphery-level hospitals might face a shortage of experts. 

Priti Chakraborty, acting president at the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries, said it will be a milestone for the health sector, which will make it easier to provide quality health services to marginal people.  

"The pandemic has opened our eyes to giving priority to the healthcare sector," she added. 

"The government will also have to properly monitor new specialised hospitals," said Priti Chakraborty, also chairman of the Universal Medical College and Hospital Ltd. 

She also urged the government to provide some additional facilities for current hospitals.

Dr Mohammad Mushtuq Husain, adviser at the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research, said, "We need more hospitals to give healthcare services to people, but during the pandemic, our first job is to prevent infections to minimise the number of patients."

It will be easier to provide proper treatment in that case, he added.

"We need to invest more in public health activities to create awareness on handwashing, mask-wearing, and maintaining self-quarantine if anyone gets infected," he also said.

He also warned that if the government does not allocate more funds in research on the public health structure, Bangladesh might face worse consequences than the US.

Current status of hospitals

According to the Directorate General of Health Services data, there are 6,201 public sector hospital and healthcare facilities in Bangladesh, while the number of specialised hospitals is about 23.

As of June 2019, the DGHS provided registration to 15,728 private hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centres, and blood banks.

The number of registered private hospitals and clinics is 5,321, and that of registered private diagnostic centres is 10,407.

The total number of beds in these registered private hospitals and clinics is 91,537.

Sources in the health sector said in the private sector, most specialised hospitals are located in Dhaka and Chattogram.

Economy / Infograph / Top News

tax / hospitals

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Photographer: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg
    Global business is enduring a synchronised slowdown
  • PID photo
    PM asks for region-based appropriate development planning
  • Illustration: TBS
    Governments should subsidise food and energy, says IMF boss

MOST VIEWED

  • MCCI for corporate tax reduction in line with neighbouring nations
    MCCI for corporate tax reduction in line with neighbouring nations
  • Pre-budget talks to begin 6 February
    Pre-budget talks to begin 6 February
  • Lower budget deficit mirrors slower public spending
    Lower budget deficit mirrors slower public spending
  • Ministries asked not to seek additional fund in revised budget 
    Ministries asked not to seek additional fund in revised budget 
  • Money whitening scope widened
    Money whitening scope widened
  • File Photo: Mumit M/TBS
    Workers’ protection neglected in budget

Related News

  • What really drives our low tax-to-GDP ratio! 
  • Trump pays $110,000 fine for blocking New York state tax probe
  • Exporters for continuation of 0.5% source tax for 5 years 
  • Bangladesh improves slightly in the cigarette tax index report
  • Russian fighting destroys, damages nearly 400 hospitals, medical centres, Zelenskiy says

Features

Why everybody wants to be like TikTok

Why everybody wants to be like TikTok

4h | Panorama
Illustration: TBS

How the ban on porn sites spawned a local cybersex industry

7h | Panorama
3 best affordable sunscreens for all

3 best affordable sunscreens for all

7h | Mode
Warah uses three types of khadi material: a sheer and light one, a medium count and a thicker one.

Warah: Embroidered with culture and womanhood

9h | Mode

More Videos from TBS

CV or Resume: Which one to create for job application

CV or Resume: Which one to create for job application

9h | Videos
Wheat prices double in India

Wheat prices double in India

23h | Videos
Is Washington-Moscow agreement possible?

Is Washington-Moscow agreement possible?

23h | Videos
Pigeon exhibition for the first time in Gazipur

Pigeon exhibition for the first time in Gazipur

1d | Videos

Most Read

1
Tk100 for bike, Tk2,400 for bus to cross Padma Bridge
Bangladesh

Tk100 for bike, Tk2,400 for bus to cross Padma Bridge

2
A packet of US five-dollar bills is inspected at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington March 26, 2015. REUTERS/Gary Cameron
Banking

Dollar hits Tk100 mark in open market

3
The story of Bangladesh becoming a major bicycle exporter
Industry

The story of Bangladesh becoming a major bicycle exporter

4
PK Halder: How a scamster rose from humble beginnings to a Tk11,000cr empire
Crime

PK Halder: How a scamster rose from humble beginnings to a Tk11,000cr empire

5
BSEC launches probe against Abul Khayer Hero and allies
Stocks

BSEC launches probe against Abul Khayer Hero and allies

6
The reception is a volumetric box-shaped room that has two glass walls on both the front and back ends and the other two walls are adorned with interior plants, wood and aluminium screens. Photo: Noor-A-Alam
Habitat

The United House: Living and working inside nature

The Business Standard
Top
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • About Us
  • Bangladesh
  • International
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Economy
  • Sitemap
  • RSS

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net

Copyright © 2022 THE BUSINESS STANDARD All rights reserved. Technical Partner: RSI Lab