Govt to set up 4,500 more community clinics soon

The government has taken an initiative to set up 4,500 more community clinics across the country soon to reach healthcare services to the doorsteps of all people.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammed Nasim came up with the information while addressing a discussion at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city on Thursday, marking the 18th founding anniversary of the community clinics.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammed Nasim spoke at the discussion as the chief guest while Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Director General Professor Dr Abul Kalam Azad was in the chair.

Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC) Chairman and former Health and Family Welfare and Social Welfare Affairs Advisor to Prime Minister Professor Dr Syed Modasser Ali, Medical Education and Family Welfare Division Secretary Faiz Ahmed and Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) President Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin addressed the function.

Line Director of the Community Based Health Care (CBHC) of the DGHS Professor Dr Abul Hasem Khan delivered the welcome speech in the function.

Addressing the function, Nasim said in line with the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken the initiative of setting up community clinics across the country to ensure health services for all in the country.

"Sheikh Hasina always gives priority to the health sector," he said, adding as per her directives some 10,000 more doctors would be recruited gradually to further improve the standard of health services at the grassroots level.

"We have already published a circular through Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) recently to recruit 5,000 doctors," the minister, also an Awami League Presidium Member said.

He urged the community clinic service providers to serve the people with sincerity.

Mentioning that the continuation of government is needed for the country's further development, Nasim urged the countrymen to vote for AL in the next polls to continue the ongoing development activities in the health sector and all other sectors.

In his presidential speech, Dr Abul Kalam Azad said more than 13,500 community clinics on the basis of one for every 6,000 persons have already been set up in the rural areas of the country to facilitate the countrymen with healthcare services.

More 4,500 community clinics will be set up soon raising the total number of the clinics to 18,000, he added, reports BSS.