Kunming: Authorities of Yunnan province in China have promised all possible cooperation to ensure quality healthcare services for Bangladeshi citizens seeking treatment in the country. They made the assurance when a group of Bangladeshi journalists visited the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University on Thursday and exchanged views with provincial health officials and chiefs of local public hospitals, according to a message received here today.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Wang Jiankun, deputy director of the Health Commission of Yunnan Province, emphasized their commitment, stating, “We are making every effort to support Bangladeshi patients visiting our hospitals. Our government and our embassy in Dhaka are in regular contact with the Bangladesh government to strengthen cooperation in the healthcare sector.” The visit by the 23-member media delegation was part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Bangladesh.
Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder leads the Bangladesh delegation. The delegation participated in a two-hour interactive session with Chinese officials, including Zeng Zhing, president of the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Xie Hongbin, deputy director of the Department of Medical Administration, and Han Rui, director of the International Medical Department.
During the session, Chinese officials addressed numerous queries concerning the language barrier, accommodation for attendants, travel expenses, access to Bangladeshi credit cards, liaison offices, follow-up treatment, billing processes, and the high cost of repatriating deceased individuals back to Bangladesh. “We are aware of the issues that Bangladeshi patients face. We are trying to resolve it,” Wang Jiankun assured.
Head of the Bangladesh delegation, Azad Majumder, urged Chinese authorities to permit more Bangladeshi students to enroll in medical universities in China to help mitigate the language barrier for Bangladeshi patients. “We expect the support of Chinese authorities more Bangladeshi patients will seek treatment in China,” he expressed.
Officials from the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University disclosed that 67 Bangladeshi patients have received treatment for conditions such as liver cirrhosis and breast cancer in the past six months. In a banquet hosted by the local foreign office of China in honor of the Bangladeshi delegation, they reiterated their commitment to provide all possible cooperation to facilitate the visits of Bangladeshi patients for medical treatment.
The Bangladesh media delegates are scheduled to visit several more hospitals in Kunming on Friday.