Govt aims to ensure quality healthcare: Health adviser

The interim government's primary goal is to ensure quality healthcare for the people, Health and Family Welfare Adviser Nurjahan Begum said today (5 September).

"To achieve this, building standard healthcare institutions and producing skilled, humane doctors are essential," she said while speaking at a views-exchange meeting with the board and departmental heads of Chattogram Maa-O-Shishu and General Hospital Medical College.

The adviser highlighted persistent shortages in public hospitals, including doctors, nurses, modern equipment, and laboratories. The country currently lacks around 10,000 doctors and 12,000 nurses, although recruitment of 3,500 doctors and a similar number of nurses is underway, she added.

The adviser also said Japan has expressed interest in hiring Bangladeshi nurses and caregivers under a one-year specialised training programme. Successful trainees will get the opportunity to work in Japan, with additional initiatives planned to strengthen their English and Japanese language skills, she further added.

Pointing to the state of medical education, Nurjahan warned that institutions operating without adequate labs, equipment, or qualified faculty will face suspension of enrollment, and closure if standards are not improved.

The meeting was chaired by the hospital's Board President Syed Morshed Hossain and attended by senior officials of the health ministry and local health authorities.

On Chattogram Maa-O-Shishu Hospital, Nurjahan noted that despite its long history, the institution has yet to achieve financial self-reliance, which she described as "undesirable."

Later, the adviser inspected several hospital wards and the emergency service centre, as well as the proposed Islami Bank Hospital construction site in Patenga.