Govt working to enhance health services: Muktadir

Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir on Saturday said the government has taken initiatives to establish several specialised hospitals and enhance the capacity of existing healthcare institutions to bring about major changes in healthcare services in the country and as well as Sylhet region.

He said this as chief guest at an event of financial assistance distribution to the patients suffering from cancer, kidney and heart diseases held at the Sylhet Sadar Upazila Auditorium today.

The minister said, "Treating diseases involves not only financial expenses but also physical and mental suffering for patients. For this reason, the government is planning to undertake various public health-oriented programmes so that people can receive necessary preventive healthcare services before falling ill."

As part of these initiatives, plans have been taken to modernise Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, establish a new 1,200-bed hospital, construct a 200-bed specialised hospital for children and expedite the launch of the cancer hospital. 

"Once these initiatives are implemented, it is expected that patients from Sylhet will be less inclined to travel to other regions for advanced medical treatment," he said.

The Minister also said the initiatives have been taken to expedite the completion of the cancer hospital and complex currently under construction within the premises of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital. 

"The facility would provide medical services to an additional 400 to 450 patients when operational," he said.

He noted a 250-bed hospital under Sylhet Medical University was also approved and is expected to run outpatient services initially from the next January.

He also added that necessary steps would be taken to eliminate irregularities and mismanagement in service delivery to ensure better health care.

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Regarding the financial assistance for cancer, kidney and heart disease patients, the Minister said treatment for these diseases is prolonged and expensive and specifically regular dialysis of Kidney patients puts significant financial burden on many families.

"Although the one-time financial assistance of Taka one lakh provided by the government is not sufficient to cover the entire treatment cost, it will serve as support in meeting patients' medical expenses," he added.

40 patients in Sylhet Sadar Upazila today received the assistance money and another 52 patients in Sylhet City Corporation area will get the assistance under the program next Friday. 

The coverage of the programme will be expanded gradually in phases in the future.

Representatives and officials of district and local administration were present at the time.