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Health and Population Sector
Program goes
too slow
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News |
March
10, 2000 The
health and family welfare ministry has taken a number of Initiatives to
accelerate implementation of the new health program and improve
healthcare delivery system. In
an Interview on Sunday, Health and Family Welfare
Minister Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selirn who took office In January, said,
"The 3. 2 billion dollar five-year Health and Population Sector
Program (HPSP) did not make progress as expected. Many of the plans did
not even take off due to their massive size. Adoption of new strategy is
expected to bring efficiency in the health sector." Giving
examples the minister said, "We are already late in gearing up the
pace of Implementation of HPSP. By now, we should have constructed 6000
community clinics (a small two-room tin-shed healthcare center for a
population of about 6000) out of the total of 13,500 to be constructed in
phases. However, to speed up healthcare delivery at the grassroots level,
we have targeted constructing 6000 community clinics by this June, which I
believe will be a break-through." Community
Clinics are supposed to provide five basic healthcare services to the
people. Health and family welfare assistants would be available there. "To
further improve health care delivery, we have decided to fully modernize
and upgrade some of the thana and district level hospitals, aiming at
establishing effective referral system so that patients don't rush to the
capital unnecessarily. The plans would be executed shortly", Selim
said. When
pointed out that a large number of patients seek treatment outside the
country, he said, steps would be taken to raise the standard of treatment
facilities at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital
(BSMMUH) to international level, having all branches of medical care. For
this, the government has sanctioned Tk 10 crore and is ready to give more. "This,
I believe, would at least check exodus of patients from the country for
common diseases and surgeries. I have also asked the BSMMUH authorities to
immediately open emergency services." Asked
about immediate plans for improvement of healthcare delivery, the minister
said, "We will also set up a number of small but well equipped
hospitals at thana and district levels. In addition, we have already given
contract for building accommodation facilities for 1000 doctors and 418
nurses at district level. We have plans also to set up eight new nursing
training centers." Besides,
the government has also worked out plans to immediately raise bed capacity
of Dhaka Medical College Hospital to 1000 from 800 now. In the process,
the Mitford Hospital in the city would also "have some more modern
facilities, he said. Similarly,
a 250-bed specialized hospital would also be set up in Gopalganj. For
this, we have sanctioned 1~ 14 crore under HPSP. Replying
to another question, he said, "A long desired and vital burn unit
would be in operation at the DMCH very soon. We have sanctioned funds for
this". About
improving the administrative efficiency in his ministry, the minister
said, "We would soon
have computer networking monitoring system which is expected to give
centralized data-based report of administration and activities at all
hospitals. I feel that without computer, I am really in the dark. Source:
The Daily Star |