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Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain has said radiotherapy machines will be installed at district-level hospitals within the next two years to bring cancer treatment closer to ordinary people.
He made the announcement at the inauguration of a medical physics programme at the BRAC University auditorium in Dhaka on Monday.
The minister said the government was working to expand cancer treatment beyond divisional cities and make specialised healthcare accessible to people at the district level.
He said efforts were underway to restructure the health sector to make it more responsive to public needs, adding that work was progressing rapidly to fulfil people’s expectations.
Praising the country’s physicians, Sakhawat said doctors were a valuable national resource who worked day and night to serve patients and stood beside people during crises.
He also said the supply of medicines had been increased and improvements had been made to hospital cleanliness and the quality of food provided to patients, contributing to greater patient satisfaction.
Bangladesh had made considerable progress in healthcare, but there was still room for improvement in medical equipment and modern technology, the minister said.
He added that irregularities and misappropriation of funds in the past had harmed the health sector. The current government was working to rebuild the sector through necessary reforms and gradual improvements to ensure better healthcare for the public.
BRAC University Vice-Chancellor Prof Syed Farhat Anwar chaired the programme, while Prof Dr Golam Abu Zakeria delivered the introductory remarks.
Among others, Prof Dr Mostafa Aziz Sumon, director of the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital; Prof Dr Jalal Uddin Rumi, additional director general of the Directorate General of Health Services; BRAC University Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof Arshad Mahmud Chowdhury; and Prof Dr Hasin Anupama Azahari attended the event.