Dhaka:Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare Minister Professor Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain announced on Thursday that the government is actively pursuing strategies to ensure free primary healthcare for all citizens across the nation.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Dr. Zahid made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the '32nd National Conference and 2nd Outreach Program Bangladesh.' The event was organized by the Bangladesh Society of Radiology and Imaging at the Shahid Abu Sayed International Convention Center in the capital.
The minister highlighted the government's pragmatic steps to decentralize quality healthcare, enabling ordinary patients to access modern medical services at divisional and regional levels, thereby reducing the need to travel to the capital. He noted that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has allocated the highest budget in history for the health sector, emphasizing the importance of utilizing these funds properly for the health system's overall enhancement.
Dr. Zahid also stressed the potential for a revolutionary transformation in healthcare despite resource constraints, provided existing resources are managed with sincerity and efficiency. He assured that the government would offer necessary funding and policy guidelines to improve healthcare quality but emphasized that the responsibility for ensuring quality patient care lies with medical professionals. He urged collective efforts to provide comprehensive treatment domestically, reducing the need for citizens to seek medical care abroad.
The minister also stressed the importance of career planning to develop young doctors as future leaders in healthcare. During the conference, expert speakers pointed out that liver cirrhosis is the seventh leading cause of death in Bangladesh, with nearly 7 million people infected with Hepatitis B and over 45 million adults suffering from fatty liver disease. They warned of the high mortality rate associated with severe fatty liver disease and advocated for early screening, public awareness, and the introduction of a radiation risk allowance in Bangladesh. Additionally, they advised against unnecessary CT scans and surgeries.
The event, chaired by Brig. Gen. Syed Awsaf Ali (Retd.), included special guests such as Bangladesh Medical University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. F M Siddiqui, BNP Health Affairs Secretary Prof. Dr. Rafiqul Islam, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services Prof. Dr. Prabhat Chandra Biswas, Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) President Prof. Dr. Harun Al Rashid, and DAB Secretary General Dr. Md. Zahirul Islam (Shakil). The welcome address was delivered by Prof. Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Society of Radiology and Imaging. Representatives and medical experts from India, Pakistan, the Netherlands, South Korea, and the United States also attended the event.