The government will deploy 10 armed Ansar members each at every upazila health complex and other major hospitals across the country to ensure the safety of doctors, Health Minister Md Sakhawat Hossain announced on Wednesday.
The decision follows recent attacks on physicians at several hospitals, the minister told journalists after a signing ceremony for a memorandum of understanding aimed at launching a Bangladesh-China Joint Surgical Clinic at Shahbagh in the capital.
Regarding vaccines, the health minister said the country has a six-month stockpile of vaccines. “There will be no problem in administering them for the next six months. There is no shortage of any vaccine, including for tuberculosis,” he added.
To address the manpower shortage, one lakh health workers will be recruited soon, the minister said.
Earlier, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) and China’s Kunming Medical University with the aim of launching a joint surgical clinic.
The event was held at the lecture hall of BMU’s Super Specialised Hospital, with Health Minister Md Sakhawat Hossain attending as chief guest.
The health minister sought cooperation from China in improving Bangladesh’s healthcare sector, particularly at the grassroots level.
“This event reflects the long-standing relationship between the two countries. On behalf of the Bangladesh government, I thank the Chinese government and hospital administration for this MoU with Bangladesh Medical University,” he said.
“We need your cooperation to bring healthcare services to the grassroots level. Expanding healthcare and education is our great responsibility. We know that China’s services and education are highly advanced. Today’s MoU between the two institutions is an important milestone.”
The minister noted that the initiative adds a new and valuable dimension to cooperation in the health sector.
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, speaking as special guest, said China and Bangladesh have always cooperated with each other, particularly in tackling international and regional challenges.
“China has long been investing in the development of Bangladesh’s health sector. It has played a role in establishing robotic rehabilitation facilities, cardiovascular clinics, and various other institutions,” he said.
“Kunming Medical University of China is a modern, high-quality medical institution for advanced medical education and healthcare. We will write a new chapter of China-Bangladesh medical cooperation,” the envoy added.
BMU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr FM Siddique, in his presidential address, described the MoU as a groundbreaking achievement for the country’s health sector.
“Bangladeshi patients will benefit from this. It marks the beginning of a new horizon for complex surgeries in the country,” he said.
While urological complex surgeries will be provided initially, all types of complex surgical services will be offered gradually, the VC added.
A robotic physiotherapy rehabilitation centre has already been launched with Chinese assistance, and future plans include adding advanced technology-based treatments such as robotic surgery, he said.
The MoU will facilitate exchange of knowledge in complex surgery, training programmes, faculty exchange, healthcare, and medical education, which will play a special role in enhancing the knowledge and skills of BMU’s teachers, physicians, and residents, Siddique said.
The event was attended by Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services Professor Dr Prabhat Chandra Biswas, Director General of the Directorate General of Medical Education Professor Dr Nazmul Hossain, Kunming Medical University’s Professor of Urology Li Jiongming, Director Professor Li Wenliang, Vice President Professor He Yongwen, among others.
