ZCZC
BSS-08
PM-BSMMU 2 LAST DHAKA
The premier said the government is establishing new medical colleges as
approval has been given recently for launching four new medical colleges in
Naogaon, Netrakona, Magura and Nilphamari.
“A proposal for setting up another medical college in Chandpur is awaiting
for approval and currently there are 105 public and private medical colleges
in the country,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina urged all teachers, doctors, officials, nurses and employees
of the BSMMU to devote themselves to properly giving healthcare services to
the people. “Then this university will able to reach its desired goal,” she
said.
She called upon them to enhance the overall activities of the university to
international standard through their prudence and talent.
“You’ll have to put emphasis on research and take effective initiatives so
that the people don’t suffer from diseases … we will extend all kinds of
cooperation,” she said.
The prime minister expressed gratitude to the physicians and teachers of
the university for their relentless efforts for improving the quality of
education, healthcare services and research activities.
She said her government in 1996 formed a separate fund for development of
the university. “This time we will give Tk 10 crore so that the poor patients
get financial support from it,” she announced.
The premier said the Awami League government taking office in 1996 after
long 21 years gave importance to health education and research.
She said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare declared the IPGM&R as
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University through a notification on July 31
in 1997. “We for the first time established a medical university in the
country,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said after coming to power in 2001, the BNP-Jamaat government
made the first attack on the medical university and turned it into a den of
irregularities, corruption and nepotism.
As a result, she said, the healthcare services and the quality of education
came down to the lowest level.
The prime minister said the Awami League after forming the government
through a landslide victory in the 2008 elections took various initiatives
for the health sector.
“We’ve framed a pro-people health policy and are implementing it … we’ve
increased the number of hospital beds as well as the medicare services of the
general hospitals and specialized hospitals manifolds,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the government also set up nearly 18,500 community
clinics and union health centres to provide healthcare services to the rural
people.
The premier said the government has established new dental and nursing
colleges, nursing institutes, medical assistant training schools and health
technology institutes.
Sheikh Hasina said the country’s health sector witnessed a massive
development in the last 10 years due to realistic steps of our government.
She said child and mother mortality rate has reduced significantly and
average life expectancy has increased to over 72. “We have achieved all
millennium development goals and are advancing towards the target of the
SDGs,” she said.
Highlighting her government’s strides for development of the BSMMU, the
premier said the government has taken various initiatives to turn the
university into a “centre of excellence”.
“Taka 525 crore have been allocated for overall development of the
university alongside permanent allocation of more lands for expansion of the
campus,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said 10 new departments have been opened at the university
for medical education and research, while evening specialized consultation
centres have been launched in 25 departments.
“I hope that such services will be opened in other departments soon and as
a result, the people of the country will be able to get the services of the
expert physicians at low cost,” she said.
Mentioning that the university has been turned into a dependable place for
the poor and distressed people for their healthcare services, the prime
minister said initiatives have been taken to launch emergency department at
the university.
Sheikh Hasina said arrangements have been made for training of the teachers
and doctors of the university at home and abroad, while it signed MoUs with
post-graduate medical institutions of different countries.
“I hope that our doctors’ community will open up a new horizon in medical
science through research and I also believe that this university will create
new opportunities for medical education in the country,” she said.
About the BSMMU Super Specialised Hospital, the premier said under the
project, an 11-storey hospital with two basements will be constructed at an
estimated cost of Tk 1,366 crore and 1000 beds will be accommodated there.
She said the Korean government is providing Tk 1,047 crore credit on an
easy condition for construction of the hospital.
“I express gratitude to the Korean government for its financial and technical
support and also thank all officials and employees involved with the scheme,”
she said.
The premier said for the first time, a centre-based healthcare delivery
system will be introduced at the hospital, while there will have specific
outdoor department for each centre.
She said the Emergency Medical Care Centre will be able to give 24-hour
emergency services and nearly 3/4 thousand people will receive treatment from
it every day.
According to an economic survey, Taka 300 crore will be saved annually if
the hospital is launched, she said, adding this hospital will be turned into
a full-fledged research centre.
Sheikh Hasina said with the launching of the hospital, the tendency of the
people to receive treatment abroad will be reduced and this hospital will be
established as a patients-friendly one.
Highlighting her government’s tremendous success in different sectors,
Sheikh Hasina said the government has been working relentlessly to change the
lot of the people following the ideology of the Father of the Nation.
The premier reiterated her determination to build Bangladesh as a middle
income country by 2021 and a developed and prosperous one by 2041.
“We’ve also adopted the Delta Plan-2100 considering the future of the next
generations,” she said.
BSS/SH/AKM 1350hrs