Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed the relevant authorities to launch a pilot project to build a ‘National e-Health Platform’ to bring Bangladesh’s healthcare system under an integrated digital framework.

The directives were issued during a meeting on the integrated information technology-based system for the health sector, held on Saturday at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, presided over by the Prime Minister, according to PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.

The meeting reviewed the proposed structure, operational model, and practical applications of the ‘National e-Health Platform’ within healthcare delivery.

Initially, the platform’s effectiveness, potential operational challenges, cost structures, and overall feasibility will be evaluated through a pilot implementation across several districts.

Based on the outcomes and insights gained from the pilot phase, the government plans to formulate a strategy for a nationwide rollout.

During the session, the Prime Minister highlighted the crucial role of information technology in modernizing healthcare, stating that the integrated system must be developed to render healthcare services more accessible, convenient and beneficial for citizens.

He also emphasized the need to securely archive essential patient medical data while ensuring swift, direct access for designated physicians and healthcare institutions when required.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister stressed safeguarding data security and individual privacy, alongside making the platform user-friendly, cost-effective, and sustainable for the long term.

He instructed officials to thoroughly assess the results of the pilot phase before advancing to subsequent stages.

At the meeting, Engineer Zakaria Swapan delivered a presentation detailing various technical and operational aspects of the proposed platform.

The meeting was attended by Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain, State Minister Dr. M A Muhit, Special Assistants to the Prime Minister Dr. S M Ziauddin Hyder and Dr. Md Shakirul Islam Khan, Health Services Division Secretary Md Quamruzzaman Chowdhury, ICT Secretary Md. Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan, alongside senior officials from relevant ministries, departments, and agencies.