Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS) hosted a high-level stakeholder meeting on the project titled “Affordable Cardiac Rehabilitation: An Outreach Inter-Disciplinary Strategic Study – Bangladesh Project (ACROSS-BD)” at the conference hall of Super Specialized Hospital at Bangladesh Medical University on Thursday.
The event brought together leading researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and development partners to discuss evidence, innovations, and priorities for strengthening the country’s cardiac rehabilitation system.
Attending the event as chief guest, Dr MA Muhit, honourable state minister for health and family welfare, expressed deep concern over the growing risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the country, mentioning that NCDs account for 67 per cent of total deaths in Bangladesh, with heart disease being one of the leading causes.
He announced that the government will provide maximum policy and structural support to implement an international-standard, affordable, and locally effective cardiac rehabilitation model.
He emphasised that research outcomes must not remain confined to laboratories or journals, but must be translated into action to ensure affordable, accessible, and sustainable healthcare at the grassroots level.
The event was presided over by Professor JMA Hannan, vice chancellor of Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS).
Keynote presentations were delivered by Professor Rod S Taylor, professor of population health research at University of Glasgow, UK, and co-chief investigator of the ACROSS Project, and Professor Imran B Chaudhry, professor at Ziauddin University Hospital, Pakistan, and co-chief investigator of the ACROSS Project.
Their presentations highlighted the importance of developing an affordable, culturally appropriate, and home-based cardiac rehabilitation model for recovering heart patients, which also incorporates mental health support.
Speaking as special guests, National Professor AK Azad Khan, president of BADAS, Professor Mohammad Safiuddin, president of Bangladesh Cardiac Society, and Professor FM Siddiqui, vice chancellor of Bangladesh Medical University, emphasised the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration and an effective rehabilitation system in managing heart diseases.
The ACROSS-BD project is a five-year international research programme funded by the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and led by University of Glasgow and the University of Manchester in the UK.
In Bangladesh, it is being implemented by BUHS, with Bangladesh Medical University, National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh, and Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital & Research Institute collaborating as clinical trial centres.
At the international level, institutions including Pakistan Institute of Living and Learning (PILL) are also associated with the project, making the stakeholder meeting a significant milestone in aligning project goals with national health priorities.
