diff --git a/backend/docker-compose.dev.yml b/backend/docker-compose.dev.yml
index 9b97c8e..5a43056 100644
--- a/backend/docker-compose.dev.yml
+++ b/backend/docker-compose.dev.yml
@@ -35,11 +35,12 @@ services:
     networks:
       - normogen-network
     healthcheck:
-      test: ['CMD', 'mongosh', '--eval', 'db.adminCommand.ping()']
+      test: |
+        mongosh --eval "db.adminCommand('ping').ok" --quiet
       interval: 10s
       timeout: 5s
       retries: 5
-      start_period: 10s
+      start_period: 40s
 volumes:
   mongodb_dev_data:
     driver: local
diff --git a/backend/docker/MONGODB-HEALTHCHECK-FIX.md b/backend/docker/MONGODB-HEALTHCHECK-FIX.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..65e4b4a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/docker/MONGODB-HEALTHCHECK-FIX.md
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+# MongoDB Health Check Fix
+
+## Problem
+The MongoDB container was failing health checks with the original configuration:
+
+```yaml
+healthcheck:
+  test: ['CMD', 'mongosh', '--eval', 'db.adminCommand.ping()']
+  start_period: 10s  # Too short!
+```
+
+## Root Causes
+1. **start_period too short**: 10s isn't enough for MongoDB to initialize, especially on first start
+2. **Command format**: The healthcheck needs proper output handling
+
+## Solution
+Updated healthcheck in docker-compose.dev.yml:
+
+```yaml
+healthcheck:
+  test: |
+    mongosh --eval "db.adminCommand('ping').ok" --quiet
+  interval: 10s
+  timeout: 5s
+  retries: 5
+  start_period: 40s  # Increased from 10s to 40s
+```
+
+## Changes Made
+- ✅ Increased `start_period` from 10s to 40s (gives MongoDB time to initialize)
+- ✅ Simplified the healthcheck command to use shell format
+- ✅ Added `--quiet` flag to suppress verbose output
+
+## How to Apply
+On your server:
+
+```bash
+# Pull the latest changes
+git pull origin main
+
+# Stop and remove existing containers
+docker compose -f docker-compose.dev.yml down -v
+
+# Start fresh
+docker compose -f docker-compose.dev.yml up -d
+
+# Watch the logs
+docker compose -f docker-compose.dev.yml logs -f mongodb
+```
+
+## Verify Health Check
+```bash
+# Check container health
+docker ps --format "table {{.Names}}	{{.Status}}"
+
+# Check health status specifically
+docker inspect normogen-mongodb-dev --format='{{.State.Health.Status}}'
+```
+
+Expected output: `healthy`