In a major move to digitize and secure national healthcare, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed the immediate initiation of an "e-Health" card system for the public.
The directive was issued during a high-level meeting on Wednesday (March 4) at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Secretariat, attended by the Health Minister, State Minister, advisors, and leading health experts.
Bringing Healthcare to the Doorstep
Confirming the development, Additional Press Secretary to the Prime Minister, Atiqur Rahman Rumon, stated that the PM has tasked the Health Ministry with beginning the rollout of these cards.
The initiative aligns with the government’s core policy of delivering medical services directly to the doorsteps of citizens.
“The Prime Minister has instructed the Ministry to become more proactive in ensuring that healthcare reaches every person,” Rumon said.
Repurposing Abandoned Buildings into Clinics
The meeting also focused on infrastructure expansion. Discussions were held regarding identifying abandoned government buildings across various ministries and agencies to be handed over to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for conversion into health centers.
According to the Additional Press Secretary, there are currently 170 abandoned buildings belonging to the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) alone. Prime Minister Rahman emphasized:
- All unused government buildings must be transformed into clinics and medical centers.
- Necessary instructions have been issued to the ministry to fast-track this conversion process.
Addressing Population Growth and Recruitment
Concerns were raised regarding the country's birth rate, with statistics showing approximately 3.4 million newborns annually. The Prime Minister expressed concern over these figures and urged the Ministry to intensify efforts regarding population control.
The meeting also revisited key electoral pledges, including:
Mass Recruitment: The appointment of 100,000 health workers (comprising 80% women and 20% men) as per the BNP’s election manifesto.
Filling Vacancies: Swiftly filling existing vacancies for doctors and medical staff within the Health Ministry.
Ensuring Rural Medical Presence
The Prime Minister concluded by urging Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain to ensure that doctors are consistently present and active in health centers located in remote and hard-to-reach areas.
The meeting was attended by Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain, State Minister M.A. Muhit, and other senior government officials.
