Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday directed the authorities to improve access to healthcare services for marginalised people across Bangladesh and ordered stricter action against doctors found negligent in treating patients.
The directives came during a meeting with officials of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at the Bangladesh Secretariat. It was the first time the prime minister had personally chaired a meeting at the ministry's auditorium.
At the start of the meeting, Tarique Rahman asked the health minister, state minister, secretary and other senior officials to present the health sector's achievements during the first five months since the current government took office.
Officials told the meeting that years of mismanagement under previous governments had severely weakened the healthcare system, making quality treatment increasingly difficult for people in remote and marginalised areas. They said the current administration had been working to improve the situation.
Referring to complaints on social media and in news reports that patients often fail to receive adequate treatment at upazila health facilities despite the presence of doctors, the prime minister instructed the authorities to take necessary action, including disciplinary measures, against those found neglecting their duties.
He said healthcare services in rural areas must become more accessible and directed officials to ensure patients receive satisfactory treatment alongside an adequate supply of medicines.
Tarique Rahman also stressed that people should be able to obtain treatment at government hospitals without unnecessary delays or inconvenience. He said public hospitals should become the country's primary and most trusted destination for healthcare.
Highlighting the growing needs of kidney patients, the prime minister announced plans to establish 50-bed dialysis centres at district level. Existing 10-bed dialysis units at district hospitals will be expanded to 50 beds, while dialysis centres will also be introduced at upazila level in phases over the next three years.
He instructed the authorities to develop the required skilled workforce and ensure adequate logistical support to implement the programme.
The meeting also reviewed the government's plan to expand upazila health complexes from 51 beds to 101 beds. Officials discussed the additional manpower and infrastructure needed for the project, while engineers from the Public Works Department presented proposed designs and technical plans.
The meeting was attended by the health minister, state minister, senior ministry officials and representatives from Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh Medical University and several other government hospitals.
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