One govt doctor for 6,579 people
Nasim tells JS; medicine exports cross Tk 3,000cr
There is one doctor at the government heath institutions for every 6,579 people in the country, according to the statistics of Sample Vital Registration System-2015.
Health Minister Mohammad Nasim placed the statistics in parliament yesterday while replying to lawmakers' queries.
According to the data, the total population is 158.1 million, while there are 22,374 doctors under the health department now.
Citing the statistics of registered doctors under Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council, he said that with government and private doctors combined, there will be one doctor for every 1,847 people.
In another reply, Nasim said local medicine producers are able to meet 98 percent of the demand of the country while Bangladesh has turned into an export-oriented nation.
The minister said that in 2014, Bangladesh exported medicines to 92 countries including Europe and America and earned TK 733 crore. In 2015, the export stood at Tk 812 crore (120 countries), in 2016 at Tk 2,247 crore (127 countries), and in 2017 at Tk 3,196 crore (142 countries).