Health Protection Act needs swift implementation: Health minister

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain has stressed the need for swift implementation of the Health Protection Act and related measures, saying the government is reviewing laws from different countries and working to adapt relevant provisions for Bangladesh.

He also said the government is placing special emphasis on developing a health insurance system.

The minister made the remarks today (15 October) while speaking as the chief guest at a workshop titled "National Health Protection Authority in Bangladesh: Design and Structural Aspects" at the International Mother Language Institute in Dhaka.

Organised by the Health Economics Unit of the Health Services Division, the workshop featured the findings of a study on the establishment of a National Health Protection Authority.

Sakhawat said it was deeply distressing that ordinary people often had to spend large amounts of money out of their own pockets to meet healthcare costs, leaving many in financial hardship.

He said the government was giving primary healthcare the highest priority to bring health services closer to people. A broad plan had been drawn up to ensure healthcare for people across the country.

However, as it would be difficult to implement all the plans at once, the government intends to set priorities and begin the initiatives gradually through pilot programmes.

Speaking about healthcare for women, the minister said, "Steps must be taken to ensure that mothers and women do not face embarrassment or harassment during pregnancy. To this end, plans are being made to turn health centres into one-stop service facilities. These centres are also expected to offer screening and testing for breast cancer and cervical cancer using artificial intelligence (AI) technology."

"The government plans to gradually introduce these services at the upazila level at low cost", he said.

The health minister also said everyone concerned must work with honesty, commitment and coordination to address longstanding irregularities and challenges in the health sector.

He said the government is committed to gradually expanding improved and quality healthcare services at every level of the country.

Health minister announces installation of 60 dialysis machines in 6 months

Sakhawat announced that 60 dialysis machines would be installed in divisional medical college hospitals within the next six months.

Emphasising the need for an effective health insurance system to strengthen the health sector, he said a health centre and three family welfare centres would be established in every union in the near future.

"Health wellbeing centres will be set up to ensure healthcare at the grassroots level. The tender process will begin within a week, and implementation will be completed within a year," he said.

Sakhawat said these centres would offer various services, including blood tests and other health screenings.

He said the comprehensive plan developed for the health sector was suitable for ensuring healthcare for the country's population, but implementing it would be extremely challenging. The government therefore plans to prioritise specific areas and launch the initiatives in phases, starting with pilot schemes.

Health Economics Unit Director General Dr Md Enamul Haque and officials from different divisions of the ministry attended the workshop.