Healthtech Conference in City: Primary goal to eliminate healthcare disparity

A two-day international conference on appropriate technologies for healthcare in low- and middle-income countries has been held. The conference began Sunday, at the Dhaka University Senate Bhaban. At the forum, leading local and global experts delivered speeches on eliminating healthcare technology disparities in low- and middle-income countries.

The event was inaugurated by the Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain.

During a crucial session on the first day, discussions were held on electrical bio-impedance and artificial intelligence (AI). Local experts Dr. Humaira Ferdous, Professor Md. Abdul Kadir, and Dr. Mahjabin Mubarak presented specialized information during this session.

At the inaugural session, Conference President Professor Khondkar Siddique-e Rabbani presented the keynote paper on the milestone achievements in innovating local healthcare technology in Bangladesh since 1978. He hig hlighted the need for innovators to spread these innovations through their own initiatives, while also detailing the regulatory and other challenges they have faced. Conference Vice-President Professor Taufiq Hasan gave a presentation on biomedical innovations developed at BUET.

Professor Syed Akram Hussain of Bangladesh Medical University, who chaired the inaugural ceremony, delivered the closing remarks. In his speech, he announced that following the momentum of this conference, the next conference will be held by the end of 2027.

On the opening day, specialized plenary sessions were held focusing on high-impact and cost-effective medical systems. Renowned expert Professor Sayeba Akhter discussed "Sayeba's Method"—a highly effective, life-saving local technique for stopping postpartum hemorrhage. Professor Ahmed Mushtaque Raza Chowdhury of Columbia University discussed public communication strategies based on BRAC's groundbreaking oral rehydration (saline) program.

This groundbreaking event was jointly organized by the Department of Biomedical Physics and Technology at Dhaka University, the Department of Biomedical Engineering at BUET, the Department of Clinical Oncology at Bangladesh Medical University, BiBeat Limited, and the Relevant Science and Technology Society, Bangladesh.

Among the special guests in attendance were Minister of State for Health M. A. Muhit, National Professor A K Azad Khan, Science and Technology Secretary Md. Anwar Hossain, the Vice-Chancellors of Dhaka University, BUET, and Bangladesh Medical University, and the World Health Organization (WHO) representative to Bangladesh.