President urges DAB leaders to come forward for health sector reform

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today (24 September) urged the leaders of Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) to come forward to ensure healthcare for all and remove the longstanding mismanagement in country's health sector.

"The country could not reach the desired level of development in the health sector due to longstanding mismanagement. Physician leaders must come forward to ensure healthcare for all and address the existing mismanagement," he said.

The President said this when a 20-member delegation of DAB led by its Chief Adviser Professor Dr Farhad Haleem Donar and President Professor Dr Harun Al Rashid paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban this morning, President's Press Secretary Md Sarwar Alam said.

The President said, "We did not have any proper and comprehensive plan regarding how many doctors, nurses and technologists and what kind of medical equipment we need, or what kind of infrastructure we require."

"Incumbent government has given the highest-ever allocation in the national budget for the health sector," he added, urging all concerned to utilise this opportunity to establish proper management in the health sector.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam stressed on adopting a proper plan for recruiting new doctors, developing infrastructure and purchasing modern equipment for the health sector.

He also stressed the need to end the previous culture of lobbying for promotions and postings and to place competent persons in appropriate positions.

At the time, he urged doctors to play a stronger role in conducting quality research.

The President noted that clinics and diagnostic centres that have sprout up indiscriminately across the country without proper authorization were damaging the country's healthcare system. 

"These institutions must be brought under proper management and control," he said.

The President also thanked and expressed gratitude to doctors for their sincere assistance and cooperation in treating former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, leaders and activists injured in the July Mass Uprising, as well as for his own treatment.

DAB Chief Adviser Dr Donar expressed concern over incidents of attacks on doctors while they are on their duties.

"Such incidents are creating negative reactions among doctors. Sincere cooperation from the government is needed to stop such incidents," he said.

During the meeting, DAB President Professor Dr Harun Al Rashid appreciated the present government's sincere efforts for development of the country's health system and expressed hope that various policies for the health sector would be formulated and implemented involving all stakeholders.

The President's secretaries and senior officials were present at that time.