Doctors' attendance and food quality in hospitals have improved, says health minister
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain has claimed that the quality of treatment in the country's hospitals, as well as the quality of food served to patients, has improved compared to before.
He said it has now been possible to ensure 100% attendance of doctors in most upazila health complexes. The government is also working to maintain cleanliness and a hygienic environment in hospitals, he said.
The minister said this on Monday (9 November) while speaking as chief guest at a discussion meeting organised to mark the inauguration of the newly built four-storey steel structure building of the Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute. The meeting was chaired by Professor Dr A K M Azizul Haque, chairman of the institution's board of directors.
The health minister said that, thanks to the efforts of doctors, the standard of healthcare in the country has improved compared to any time in the past. Doctors in the country are successfully performing complex operations and treatments efficiently in a short time, he said.
The minister described this as strong proof of the capacity of the country's health sector. He also praised the skill, courage and humane behaviour of doctors towards patients.
"I am not a doctor, but I respect doctors. I want to work for them. Because without the cooperation of doctors, no government initiative to develop the health sector can be implemented successfully," the minister said.
He said a separate project worth several thousand crore taka has been taken up to solve hospital drainage and waste management problems, and work is under way to manage medical and general waste separately.
The government is working to ensure improved, modern and affordable healthcare for every person in the country in future, alongside building a corruption-free and people-friendly health system, he said, seeking the cooperation of the media and everyone in this regard.
Earlier, the health minister inaugurated the ICU, post-operative unit, e-registration, QR code system and outpatient department of the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR).
At that time he announced an allocation of Tk 50 crore for the development of the institution. The programme, chaired by NITOR director Professor Dr Md Abul Kenan, was attended by Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) president Professor Dr Harun Al Rashid, secretary general Dr Md Zahirul Islam Shakil and others.
