Govt to launch PPP-based advanced healthcare services at five Dhaka hospitals
The government is set to introduce advanced healthcare services under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) system at five tertiary-level hospitals in Dhaka on a pilot basis, with plans to gradually expand the initiative to other cities across the country.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain disclosed this today while addressing a programme as the chief guest at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital (SZMCH) in Bogura, marking SZMC Day.
He said discussions with the five tertiary-level hospitals in Dhaka on introducing the PPP-based services had been completed. However, another meeting is scheduled for next week to finalise the charges that private organisations would collect for providing the services.
The initiative will be launched once the charges are settled, he added.
"Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is interested in this initiative, and we are working to implement the plan," the minister said.
Describing Bogura as an important healthcare centre for people from different districts in the northern region, Sakhawat said the government was considering expanding advanced treatment facilities for complex diseases, including cancer and liver diseases, in the area.
He said the hospital authorities had been asked to submit a written list of their problems, assuring that the issues would be addressed gradually.
Regarding the lack of a separate intensive care unit (ICU) for children and the shortage of doctors at SZMCH, the minister said the government had planned to establish around 20 new ICUs across the country, including one in Bogura.
He said 17 newly appointed doctors had already been posted at different levels in Bogura and more doctors would be appointed to strengthen healthcare services in the district. The recruitment process for 5,000 doctors is also underway.
Assessing the state of the country's health sector, Sakhawat said corruption and mismanagement over the past 17 years had severely weakened the sector. The government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, was working to restore discipline and improve healthcare services, he added.
Former principal of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital Prof Dr Moudud Hossain Alamgir Pavel addressed the programme as the chief speaker.
Dr A N M Monowarul Kadir Bitu, Assistant Personal Physician to the Prime Minister and convener of the Alumni Association of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College, chaired the programme.
Bogura-6 lawmaker Rezaul Karim Badsha, Deputy Commissioner Md Toufiqur Rahman and SZMCH Principal Prof Dr Wadudul Haque Tarafdar also spoke on the occasion.
