Dhaka: State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. M A Muhit today announced that mobile surgical units will bring treatment services for complicated diseases such as heart conditions directly to people’s doorsteps. ‘Our election manifesto outlines a vision and mission to transform Bangladesh’s healthcare system. This initiative will further accelerate that goal,’ he said. The government plans to reform and restructure the health sector so that public hospital services can effectively meet the needs of the general population. He made these remarks at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) and Hospital during the handover ceremony of a state-of-the-art ‘Mobile Medical and Surgical Unit’ (mobile van), provided under China-Bangladesh health sector cooperation.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the event featured speeches from Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, Director General of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Professor Dr. Pravath Chandra Biswas, and Director of NICVD Professor Dr. Abdul Wadud Chowdhury. Muhit emphasized that non-communicable diseases, particularly heart disease, contribute to a high number of deaths. The advanced mobile unit will extend NICVD services beyond Dhaka to remote rural areas across the country.
Through this initiative, treatment for complex conditions like heart disease will reach people at their doorsteps, Muhit stated. He also acknowledged that the health sector has suffered over the past 15 years due to corruption, lack of oversight, and poor planning. However, he assured that under the current democratic government, efforts are underway to reform and rebuild the system to better serve the public.
The state minister stressed the need to identify and prioritize key areas in the health sector. He noted the significant scope for collaboration with China, particularly in hospital expansion, medical research, and advanced training for doctors and healthcare workers. Additionally, Muhit indicated that the government is set to adopt short-term and mid-term plans aimed at addressing immediate and ongoing healthcare needs.