Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain has said that the government will install 17 radiotherapy machines at public hospitals by June next year to serve cancer patients.
He announced the decision at a press briefing held at the ministry on Wednesday.
He also said that the move has been taken to address the huge demand for treatment.
Under the initiative, six linear accelerator machines will be set up in Dhaka hospitals, while the remaining machines will be installed in government hospitals outside Dhaka.
“The number of cancer patients in the country is increasing rapidly, resulting in patients having to wait six to eight months to receive radiotherapy,” minister said.
“Therefore, we have taken these measures to reduce human suffering.”
In addition, the minister stated that the government will launch a year-long campaign from 1 December to bring new momentum to the family planning programme.
“In recent times, the total fertility rate in the country has increased. This situation has arisen because the family planning programme lost momentum over the past few years,” the minister explained, affirming that a vigorous campaign will be carried out to restore impetus to the programme.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will inaugurate the family planning campaign, the minister informed.
