REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) FOR LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS TO ESTABLISH ASTHA CARE CENTRES

INTRODUCTION

Swisscontact Bangladesh invites Expressions of Interest (EOI) from local entrepren.eurs who are interested to invest in, establish, and operate an ASTHA CARE centre in their own locality.

Individuals, partnerships, companies, NGOs, trusts and foundations, pharmacy owners, and existing clinic or diagnostic centre operators from anywhere in Bangladesh are welcome to apply.

ABOUT ASTHA CARE

ASTHA CARE centres are compact, technology-enabled healthcare facilities that bring quality, affordable services to rural communities. Each centre offers three core services under one roof: rapid diasnostics, medical consultations, and on-site pharmacy.

Patients can be diagnosed, consulted and treated in a single visit, usually within an hour, with their records kept in a digital patient record system. Entrepreneurs may also add services such as maternal care, eye and dental care, or ambulance services, depending on local demand and their own capacity.

OBJECTIVE

Swisscontact intends to partner with interested and motivated local entrepreneurs to establish commercially viable ASTHA CARE centres in underserved rural market centres across Bangladesh.

The entrepreneur owns and runs the business. Swisscontact and Carnival Care provide time-bound technical financial support, with no claim to ownership or share of profit.

WHAT THE PARTNERSHIP OFFERS

  • Site assessment, architectural layout and interior design consultation, free of cost.
  • Electronic medical records and telemedicine software, with no development cost.
  • Recruitment of verified MBBS doctors, and access to specialist and telemedicine consultants.
  • Time-bound, cost-shared support for doctor retention and for launch marketing.
  • Facilitation of national-level licensing and regulatory processes.
  • Training on clinical standard operating procedures (SOPs), equipment maintenance and operational management.
  • Use of the ASTHA CARE brand, with ongoing quality audits and performance support.

INVESTMENT REQUIRED

The entrepreneur is responsible for a capital investment of approximately BDT 50 to 70 lacs, excluding land or building. This covers medical and electronic equipment, civil modification, furniture, licensing and pharmacy setup. The entrepreneur also bears all running costs of the centre.
Equipment must meet the specifications approved by Swisscontact and Carnival Care. A detailed investment breakdown and the partnership terms will be shared with shortlisted applicants.

The requirements to setup the facility can be finalised and modified upon discussion.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Mandatory

  1. A Bangladeshi individual, or a legally registered entity operating in Bangladesh.
  2. Owned premises, or premises rented under a secure lease, of approximately 1,500–2,500 sq. ft., preferably on the ground floor at a busy rural market or growth centre, within 1 km of an all-weather road and about 5 – 10 km from the upazila centre, with reliable electricity, water and mobile network.
  3. Financial capacity to make the investment outlined above and to cover running costs until the centre breaks even.
  4. Willingness to follow the prescribed clinical SOPs, equipment specifications, brand guidelines, data-sharing requirements and quality audits.

Desirable

  1. Business experience, especially in pharmacy, diagnostics or healthcare.
  2. Residence in, or strong ties to, the proposed locality.
  3. Existing premises or infrastructure that can be converted.
  4. Interest in offering additional services such as maternal, eye or dental care.

SUBMISSION DETAILS

Interested applicants should submit the following:

  1. Applicant Profile: name, type of applicant (individual or entity), current businesses and relevant experience.
  2. Proposed Site: full address (village, union, upazila, district), floor area, ownership or lease status, distance from the upazila centre, and photos of the premises and its surroundings.
  3. Motivation Note (max. one page): why you want to set up an ASTHA CARE centre, the health needs of your area, and how you plan to manage the centre.
  4. Financing Plan: intended sources of investment (own funds, partners, bank loan, etc.). A bank solvency certificate is not required at this stage.
  5. Contact Information: name, phone number and email of the applicant or authorised representative.
  6. Identification: NID copy (for individuals), or trade licence or registration certificate (for entities).
  7. EOIs may be submitted in English or Bangla.

HOW TO APPLY

This is an open call. EOIs are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until all available partnership slots are filled. Early submission is encouraged.

This EOI will remain open-ended and available on the Swisscontact Bangladesh website with submissions reviewed on a rolling basis. Please refer to the link:
https://www.swisscontact.org/en/where-we-work/bangladesh/request-for-proposal

Please submit your EoI via email to [email protected] with the subject line: “EOI for Establishing ASTHA CARE – [District Name]”.


EVALUATION PROCESS

Swisscontact will assess each EOI against the eligibility criteria and the suitability of the proposed site. Shortlisted applicants will then go through a consultation meeting, a site visit, confirmation of investment by the entrepreneur, followed by a tailored floor plan, and finally signing of a partnership agreement (MoU)

For any queries or additional information, please email [email protected] .

Swisscontact does not charge any fee at any stage of this process. Submission of an EoI does not create any obligation for either party. Swisscontact reserves the right to accept or reject any or all submissions without assigning any reason. It has the right to select more than one service provider for the assignment.