Ten armed Ansar members will be deployed at every upazila health complex and major hospital across the country to ensure the safety of doctors, Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain said On Wednesday.

"This measure was taken in response to recent attacks on doctors in several hospitals," he told journalists Wednesday afternoon after signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to launch a Bangladesh-China Joint Surgical Clinic at Shahbagh in the capital.

Referring to the country’s vaccine situation, the health minister said Bangladesh currently has sufficient vaccine stock for the next six months, adding that there is no shortage of any essential vaccines, including tuberculosis vaccines.

He also said around 100,000 health workers will be recruited soon to address manpower shortages in the health sector.

Earlier, a MoU was signed between Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) and China’s Kunming Medical University to establish a joint surgical clinic aimed at advancing medical services and education.

At that time, the health minister sought continued cooperation for the development of Bangladesh’s healthcare system, particularly at the rural level.

He described the initiative as a reflection of the long-standing relationship between Bangladesh and China.

“This agreement marks an important step forward in expanding healthcare services and medical education cooperation between the two countries,” he said, adding that improving healthcare access for rural people remains a top priority.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, speaking as special guest, said China and Bangladesh have long maintained strong cooperation and are working together to address regional and global challenges.

He said China has been contributing to Bangladesh’s health sector development for years, including in areas such as robotic rehabilitation and cardiovascular care.

He also expressed hope that the partnership between BMU and Kunming Medical University would open a new chapter in China-Bangladesh medical cooperation.