First Advisory Council Meeting
PM's guidelines to revitalise community healthcare
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina speaks at the first meeting of the National Advisory Council on Revitalisation of Community Health Care Initiatives in Bangladesh held at the Prime Minister's office yesterday. Photo: PID
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday gave necessary guidelines to the authorities to revitalise community healthcare services in the country through community clinics. She gave the directives at the first meeting of the National Advisory Council on Revitalisation of Community Health Care Initiatives in Bangladesh held at the Prime Minister's office. During the meeting, the national advisory council held detailed discussions on the activities of community clinic project and the progress of its implementation. The prime minister's press secretary, Abul Kalam Azad, later briefed journalists about the outcome of the meeting. Sheikh Hasina said father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman first thought of reaching healthcare services to the doorsteps of the common people and her government, during its previous term, had started the community clinic project in line with the dream of Bangabandhu. The premier said during her previous tenure (1996-2001), infrastructure facilities for some 11,000 community clinics were built and 4,000 clinics went into operation. “But, the previous BNP-Jamaat government stopped the project out of political spite. As a result, rural people were deprived of healthcare services.” The present government, soon after assuming power, resumed the project and operation of 11,000 community clinics in the country, she added. The prime minister mentioned that during his recent visit to Bangladesh, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon highly praised the activities of the community clinics. Many countries in the world are thinking of setting up community clinics in their respective countries replicating this idea, she said. Hasina said her government is considering setting up of a Healthcare Assistance Trust Fund, like the Education Assistance Trust Fund, to ensure healthcare for the poor and helpless people. She reiterated that donation in the health and education sectors would be exempted from tax. Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Health Minister Dr AFM Ruhal Haque, Social Welfare Minister Enamul Haq Mostafa Shahid, Adviser to the Prime Minister Prof Syed Modasser Ali, State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Sheikh Wahid Uz Zaman and concerned secretaries also were present.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments