Dhaka:The State Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. M A Muhit, has announced a special 'e-Hackathon' aimed at digitally transforming the healthcare system to make it more integrated and accessible to citizens. This initiative seeks to introduce a universal 'health card' to provide quality healthcare services across the country.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Dr. Muhit revealed details of the programme during a press conference, organized in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) at a city hotel. The event was also attended by Invest Bangladesh Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun.
The state minister emphasized the need for coordination in the health sector, highlighting that the hackathon will create a unified platform for existing independent initiatives. This will enable interoperability among various departments within the digital health system. The initiative aims to harness the innovative ideas of young talent from grassroots levels to drive the digital transformation of the healthcare sector.
A national health database is being developed to store health information of nearly 200 million people, which will support research and the implementation of the e-Health Card. This database will be updated with every medical interaction, providing a valuable resource for health research.
To reduce the long queues and inconvenience at hospitals, Dr. Muhit proposed an app-based appointment system. He also suggested introducing QR codes and digital tracking systems to improve transparency in the supply chain of government hospitals.
In addition, the minister announced a special research fund in the current budget to support young doctors and researchers, and efforts are underway to enhance the Bangladesh Medical Research Council and establish modern molecular laboratories. Plans to strengthen the Directorate General of Drug Administration and expand trials of new technologies to combat diseases like dengue are also in progress.
An initiative to develop a National Vaccine Research Institute is being undertaken to achieve self-sufficiency in vaccine production. Interest from global companies in investing in the health database for AI and machine learning applications was noted, with a focus on maintaining national sovereignty and data privacy.
Registration for the hackathon will remain open for one month, inviting young innovators nationwide to submit their ideas. Selected teams will participate in a three-day bootcamp in Dhaka, receiving mentorship from technology experts to refine their solutions.
Invest Bangladesh Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun highlighted the hackathon's role in promoting transparency and equal opportunity, noting its potential to attract significant investment if the healthcare sector is digitalized and its database improved.