Dhaka: Health and Family Planning Minister Mohammad Nasim on Tuesday said some 40,000 posts of 3rd- and 4th-class employees in the government hospitals remain vacant, creating obstacles to providing medical services.

"The initiatives taken by the Health Ministry to resolve the manpower crisis are yet to be implemented due to inter-ministerial complexities. The vacant posts will be filled soon," the minister said.

He came up with the remarks while talking to journalists after visiting the construction work of the 14-storey building of the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedic Rehabilitation.

The construction work of the 14-storey building with additional 500 beds will be completed by June next year, Nasim said.

Later, the minister visited the emergency department and wards of the hospital and talked to patients and their relatives.

He also urged the senior doctors and nurses to increase the standard of their services and assured to resolve a nurse crisis as early as possible.

Additional Secretary of Health Ministry Habibur Rahman was, among others, present during the visit.