Dhaka:State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. MA Muhit has announced government efforts to bolster the upazila-level healthcare system and establish an effective referral network to enhance women's health services.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Dr. Muhit emphasized the government's priority on structural reforms in the health sector during the 3rd International Scientific Conference of the Endometriosis-Adenomyosis Society of Bangladesh. The reforms aim to improve primary healthcare accessibility for grassroots communities, aligning with electoral commitments.
Dr. Muhit highlighted the challenges faced by women in Bangladesh, noting that many suffer from conditions like endometriosis that remain undiagnosed due to social stigma and lack of awareness. To combat this, the government plans to hire 100,000 new health workers, including 50,000 women, and develop training modules to facilitate disease awareness and early detection.
The minister also addressed the overcrowding in major hospitals, attributing it to the absence of an effective referral network. He suggested that modernizing upazila and district hospitals with skilled personnel and adequate equipment could allow 80% of patients to receive local treatment.
Dr. Muhit underscored the need for more research to advance the healthcare system, pledging government support for young physicians engaged in quality research. He also pointed out the significant number of annual deaths from diseases like cervical cancer, stating plans to expand cancer treatment services to divisional levels for early diagnosis.
The conference, held in collaboration with the Asian Society of Endometriosis and Adenomyosis, was attended by prominent health sector professionals.