Strengthen healthcare at community level: experts
If there was effective health service delivery in district and upazila level hospitals, some 60-70 percent of people could be served with quality health services, according to a report titled "Bangladesh Health Sector: Present Challenges and Future Guidelines".
Prof AFM Ruhal Haque, former minister for the ministry of health and family welfare, presented the report yesterday. The report is based on discussions with 60 relevant stakeholders, including physicians, educationists, politicians, journalists and cultural personalities, during 11 dialogues held between March 11 and July 2, 2021.
While presenting the report, Prof Haque mentioned nine key problems behind inefficiency of the health system, including lack of adequate and skilled human resources, dysfunctional medical devices, lack of incentives and facilities for health staff working in rural and hard-to-reach areas, and inadequate medicines for outdoor patients.
The majority of the participants in those dialogues recommended strengthening the health services at community level.
Other recommendations include division-centric decentralisation of healthcare, introducing a digitalised referral system at local level hospitals and separate service cadres for healthcare.
The report also recommended forming a "Health System Development Forum" comprised of the health ministry, parliamentary standing committee on the health ministry and relevant stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, Dr ABM Abdullah, professor emeritus at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, said, "Doctors are deprived of timely promotion. As a result, they are frustrated. This issue should be addressed."
Dr Kazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmed, chairperson of Palli Karma-Sahaka Foundation, stressed proper coordination to improve healthcare.
Dr Ehteshamul Huq Choudhury, secretary general of Bangladesh Medical Association, presented the opening speech, while Prof Dr Syed Modasser Ali, chair of Community Clinic Health Support Trust; and National Professor A K Azad Khan, president of Diabetic Association of Bangladesh, spoke at the event.
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