40% health sector posts vacant, 5,000 doctors to be recruited: State minister
He says more than 2 crore children have received measles vaccines under ongoing routine and catch-up vaccination programmes.
The government has initiated the process of recruiting 5,000 doctors as around 40% of posts in the country's health sector remain vacant, State Minister for Health MA Muhit said today (10 October).
The state minister made the remarks while speaking to journalists after a workshop reviewing progress in the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) and other health programmes at a hotel in Rajshahi city.
Initiatives are underway to set up pathology laboratories at upazila health complexes, ensure doctors' attendance at workplaces and strengthen disease prevention programmes, the state minister said.
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Around 80-90% of doctors are currently attending their workplaces, he said.
Setting up pathology laboratories and ensuring equipment remains functional at the upazila level would make disease diagnosis easier and reduce patients' suffering, he added.
According to the state minister, more than 2 crore children had been vaccinated under the ongoing vaccination and catch-up programmes to prevent measles.
To tackle dengue, the government has stepped up cleanliness drives, mosquito and larva control measures, and training for doctors. Around 2,000 doctors have already received specialised training to treat dengue patients, he added.
Muhit said disease prevention was more effective than treatment after an illness develops.
The government is therefore prioritising preventive healthcare through vaccination, cleanliness initiatives and greater public awareness.
