Major changes needed in healthcare services: President
Photo: Agamir Somoy
President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that major changes are needed in the country’s healthcare services. He said the healthcare system must be completely revamped and a change in mindset is also necessary.
The country’s brightest students study medicine and the government makes substantial investments in the sector. However, the benefits of these investments are not reaching ordinary people, he said.
He made the remarks on Friday morning while inaugurating the first international conference and dental expo organized by the Bangladesh Prosthodontic Society at Hotel Inter Continental Dhaka in the capital.
The president said the country’s healthcare system had become so complicated that it was difficult for ordinary people to access medical services. At the same time, the cost of dental treatment was so high that many people could not afford it.
Highlighting the limitations of healthcare services at government hospitals, he said that in most cases, these facilities lacked sufficient doctors and necessary medical services. In many cases, doctors were hardly available at the upazila level. As a result, ordinary people were forced to seek treatment from unqualified practitioners.
He called on the relevant authorities to appoint an adequate number of government doctors at healthcare centers in remote areas.
Emphasizing the importance of young doctors providing medical services in rural areas, the president said many young doctors were unwilling to work in villages after completing their studies. Some who did take up rural postings left after a short period to pursue other training or engage in other activities. This mindset needs to change, he said.
Calling on those responsible to act sincerely to address various forms of mismanagement in the health sector, he said the situation could be changed quite easily if people demonstrated love and a sense of responsibility toward others.
The president also called for initiatives to keep professional organizations free from partisan politics. He said professional activities should not be politicized. Taking initiatives in this regard would help reduce many of the existing problems. The tendency to change everything within professional organizations whenever the government changes should also come to an end, he said.
He said the people of the country wanted change. Everyone must work together to bring about this positive change. He urged all concerned to continue working from their respective positions to establish a universal and people-friendly healthcare system in the country.
Earlier, the president unveiled the organization’s souvenir. Representatives of the organization also presented him with a commemorative crest.
Among those who spoke at the event as special guests were Professor Dr. Md. Saiful Islam, president of the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council, and Professor Dr. Sakhawat Hossain, dean of the Faculty of Dentistry at Bangladesh Medical University.
Professor Dr. Abu Tayeb Md. Ahsan Ullah, president of the Bangladesh Prosthodontic Society, chaired the event. Dr. Md. Alamgir Kabir, member secretary of the organization’s convening committee, delivered the welcome address. Professor Dr. Md. Masudur Rahman, general secretary of the organization also spoke.
