The shortage of personnel in the Bangladesh healthcare sector is not a new issue. For a long time, government and private hospitals and clinics have been operating with fewer staff than required. There is a workforce shortage across all areas—doctors, nurses, midwives, and other support sectors. However, this shortage is most acute among nurses. Compared to World Health Organization (WHO) standards, only 18 percent of the required number of nurses are currently employed in the country. That means there is a gap of nearly 82 percent. Yet statistics show that over the past one and a half decades, the number of nursing colleges and institutes has increased by almost 421 percent.
The Bangladesh Health Workforce Strategy 2024 report from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) notes that in 2010, the country had a total of 87 nursing and midwifery colleges and institutes. By 2016, that number had risen to 221, and in 2020 it reached 397. According to the latest data from the Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council, the number of institutions has now reached 453 in 2025—an increase of 421 percent over one and a half decades. Of these, 70 are public and 383 are private. More than 36,000 students are admitted to these institutions each year.
WHO data indicates that the ratio of nurses to doctors should be 3:1 in service delivery—that is, three nurses should work alongside one doctor. Maintaining this ratio ensures proper and quality medical care. A report from the Health Reform Commission states that, based on population, Bangladesh should currently have at least 310,500 nurses. But in reality, there are only 56,734. That means, according to WHO standards, the country has only 18 percent of the nurses needed for quality healthcare, leaving a deficit of nearly 82 percent.
Asaduzzaman Jewel, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Nurses Association (BNA), told Bonik Barta, “There is a shortage of nursing personnel in the country. On the other hand, the number of nursing institutes and colleges is increasing, particularly in the private sector. We are focusing on quality over quantity. During the previous government, various institutions received approval. Many private institutions are maintaining educational standards. But outside Dhaka, some district-level institutions are not following the standards. We are trying to take action on this. We have already spoken with the relevant departments and ministries and submitted written recommendations. Hopefully, steps will be taken very soon to resolve this issue.”
Experts say the shortage of nurses is one of the key reasons for the unsatisfactory quality of healthcare in the country. While the number of nursing institutes has increased, their quality has not improved. Although more than 36,000 nursing students are admitted each year, most remain unemployed after graduation. Private hospitals recruit some, but low pay and lack of skill development create reluctance even there. Many government positions also remain vacant. Due to the absence of structured recruitment planning, a large portion of nursing posts remain unfilled.
Professor Dr. Muzaherul Huq, former Senior Adviser at the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) and former WHO consultant for Southeast Asia, told Bonik Barta, “We need proper planning. We need to determine the current number of nurses required and the projected number needed in the future. A strategic plan is required at the government level for areas where specialized nurses are needed. It is essential to monitor whether the thousands of nurses trained annually at these institutes are properly trained. Most nurses from these institutes are not adequately trained. There is a shortage of qualified teachers and necessary equipment. Scientifically sound measures are urgently needed to address the nursing shortage in the future. Working nurses also need training. It is essential to administer an examination before granting registration after passing nursing.”
A nurse working at Dhaka Medical College, who requested anonymity, told Bonik Barta, “The basic nursing service checklist is extensive. Beyond routine tasks, there are many specialized duties. There are many tasks we do not know how to perform. We are not provided proper training. At the same time, we have to manage excessive workloads. Perhaps we are supposed to care for six patients, but end up attending to 50. Naturally, it is impossible to give every patient the time they require. This leaves patients dissatisfied and affects the quality of service.”
Md Momin Uddin, Director (Administration) of the Directorate General of Nursing and Midwifery, said that recruitment is ongoing to address the staffing shortage. He told Bonik Barta, “I am not responsible for monitoring everything in nursing colleges and institutes. However, we are working to solve the workforce shortage in nursing. Most recently, we recruited 3,500 nurses. The process to recruit an additional 3,500 nurses is ongoing. It is not possible to fill all vacancies at once. We are trying to address the shortages at the government level.”