Doctors should pay attention to ensure poor people's access to health services: PM Sheikh Hasina

The government has initiated massive programmes to reach the healthcare services to the doorstep of the people. To make the initiative successful the role of doctors is very important, she said adding that doctors must ensure that grassroots people, particularly people under extreme poverty, have access to healthcare services.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said this while addressing as the chief guest at the 4th National Conference of Swadhinata Chikitsok Parisad (Swachip), a pro-Awami League doctors' forum, at Suharawardy Uddyan here today.

The prime minister said doctors are engaged in a noble profession. "Approach of a doctor is very important to a person who comes to him/her for treatment, and a patients feel confidence of recovering from illness if they get good approach from doctor," she said adding that you must give attention to this matter.

Sheikh Hasina said one of the important goals of her government's economic development is to reach the healthcare services to the door step of the common people. "So doctors have to render service so that extreme poor are not deprived of their good services," she said.

Health Minister Mohamamd Nasim, Awami League presidium member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, general secretary of Bangladesh Awami League Syed Ashraful Islam, prime minister's former advisor Prof. Modasser Ali, state minister for health Zahid Malek attended the function as special guests.

With president of Swachip Professor Dr Ruhal Haq presided over the function, Prof. Dr. M Iqbal Arslan presented report of the Secretary General. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the conference by releasing pigeons and balloons.

Founder secretary general of Swachip Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, health affairs secretary of Awami League Dr Bodiuzzaman Bhuiyan, co-chairmen of the conference preparatory committee Prof. M Moniruzzaman Bhuiyan and Prof. Kanak Kanti Barua and Secretary General Dr Ihteshamul Haque Chowdhury, among others, spoke on the occasion.

Recalling the role and sacrifice of doctors in the war of liberation and democratic movements the prime minister said many eminent doctors embraced martyrdom for country's independence. Doctors were always in the forefront of all democratic movements, she said.

Sheikh Hasina thanked the leaders of Swachip for making the organization as a strong forum of the doctors and said the unity of the doctors would supplement the government efforts to reach health services to the people.

Highlighting the steps taken by her government for development of medicare system and medical education and research in the country the prime minister said the country needs more research on medical science.

The Awami League government established Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), first medical university in the country, for research on medical science, she said adding that two more medical universities one in Chittagong and the other in Rajshahi would also be established for research.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has given attachment to establishment of specialized medical hospitals and institutes to create efficient medical persons and nurses. The government would frame necessary law to help the community clinics to run on its own income so that none can stop their operation in dearth of money or with any ill motive as it had been done by BNP government in 2001.

Pointing out the country's political situation the Prime Minister said Bangladesh has experience in combating natural disasters. Side by side the country now is going through man-made disasters.

"Those people who never wanted nation's independence, and those people who had done nothing for development of the people while they were in power, are carrying out the destructive activities and trying to tarnish the country's image," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said in the name of political movement BNP and Jamaat have been resorting to killing, arson and subversive activities since 2013. "They have started secret killing and now killing foreigners as they had failed to overthrow the government by killing local ones," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said BNP-Jamaat has chosen a time to carry out their subversive activities aimed at tarnishing the image of the country when Bangladesh is being acclaimed by the world community as a role model of development and when Bangladesh is going ahead economically in a sustainable manner.

The prime minister urged the countrymen at all level to remain united against the culprits who are involved with these types of heinous killings and terrorist acts. She said Bangladesh is going ahead despite many obstacles and her journey towards prosperity would continue in the coming days. "None would be able to hold back Bangladesh," she added.

By 2041 Bangladesh would emerge as a developed and prosperous nation economically in South Asia and the country would be a middle-income country much ahead of 2021, she said. She urged all to be imbued with the spirit of Bangabandhu keeping them above all self-expectation, rather think for the cause of the people.