Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain has announced that initiatives will be taken to install modern equipment at the Infertility Centre of Dhaka Medical College (DMC) to expand treatment facilities and reduce patients travelling abroad for care.
Sakhawat said he would make every effort to implement this initiative in the upcoming budget. He also emphasised the importance of training to produce skilled doctors in infertility treatment.
The health minister made these remarks at a scientific seminar held on Sunday morning to mark Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Awareness Month at the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Unit of DMC.
Sakhawat stressed that ensuring healthcare for all is a major goal of the government and that infertility care is an essential component of healthcare services.
He pointed out that couples unable to conceive frequently face social stigma and harassment, adding that if the problem can be addressed medically, there is no reason to fall behind in this area.
Underlining the need to curb the trend of patients seeking treatment abroad, Sakhawat noted that although the country’s talented doctors are fully capable, many patients still travel to India and Thailand for care, leading to a substantial outflow of foreign currency.
He stressed raising public awareness about infertility treatment to build confidence that international-standard medical care is achievable within the country, adding that awareness campaigns will be strengthened at the district and village levels.
Sakhawat added that women and individuals suffering from infertility issues will be encouraged to receive treatment domestically. “Even if we succeed in 80 per cent of cases, that itself will be a major success for the country,” he remarked.
Praising the doctors who engaged in infertility treatment, the minister stated that with their cooperation, he would make his utmost effort to fulfil the commitments made.
The seminar was chaired by Professor Dr Musarrat Sultana. Health Services Division Secretary ANM Bazlur Rashid, Director General of Health Services Pravath Chandra Biswas, Dhaka Medical College Principal Md Mazharul Shaheen, and Dhaka Medical College Director Brigadier General AKM Farhad Hossain attended as special guests.
