‘Joy Bangla Telemedicine App’ launched to provide health advice free of cost

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today formally inaugurated the operation of Joy Bangla Telemedicine App at a virtual ceremony.

The telemedicine app was developed by Awami League's science and technology affairs sub-committee to ensure healthcare free of cost to people across the country through mobile application.

"Joy Bangla Telemedicine App adds a new dimension to the country's health sector. Using the application, patients can consult physicians through video calls for necessary healthcare free of cost," Quader said during the virtual launching ceremony which he attended from his official residence on parliament premises.

He said information of patients will be stored in the app so that it can be used for research in future.

The AL general secretary said before the 2008 general elections, AL declared electoral pledge of building a hunger and poverty free 'Digital Bangladesh' with the optimum utilization of information and communication technology (ICT) at the golden jubilee of the country's independence in 2021.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced a vision of establishing a knowledge-based society with a strong footing in economy, thanks to flourishing of ICT, he said, adding that the vision has turned into reality before 2021.

AL Advisory Council Member and sub-committee chairman Prof Hossain Mansur presided over the function while AL Science and Technology Affairs Secretary and sub-committee member secretary Engineer Md Abdus Sabur delivered the welcome address.

Canadian University of Bangladesh Vice-Chancellor Prof Engineer Mohammad Mahfuzul Islam addressed it as discussant while Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) Assistant General Secretary Engineer Md Ranak Ahsan moderated the function.

Engineer Abu Hasan Masud presented details about the app.

In his speech, Engineer Md Abdus Sabur said at the onset of coronavirus outbreak, telemedicine service has become very essential to the health sector.

"Since then, we began the work for developing Joy Bangladesh Telemedicine App to provide healthcare to patients across the country through mobile application," he said.