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It is a matter of growing concern that students are losing interest in studying science subjects at secondary and higher-secondary levels. This is because after studying in the science group, students now get very limited opportunity to continue higher studies in science-based disciplines in the country.
Setting up of more medical colleges will encourage students to study science subjects at secondary and higher-secondary levels. The government is committed to providing health services to people in both rural and urban areas. But it has become difficult as the doctors are not willing to serve in the health centres located in rural areas.
This problem has been persisting for long. The problem cannot be addressed properly as we could not yet develop a good number of qualified physicians. It is therefore necessary to set up public medical colleges at district level to address this practical problem.
Among all districts of the country Narsingdi is closest to Dhaka. It was until recently a part of old greater Dhaka district. One can reach Narsingdi town within one and a half hours by road from zero point of Dhaka where as it takes more than two hours to travel from one end of Dhaka metropolis to the other by road.
A good number of industrial units are operating on both sides of Dhaka-Narsingdi highway. Narsingdi will be an appropriate location for a full-fledged public medical college to impart undergraduate medical education.
It will undoubtedly improve the standard of health services for the people of the district and adjoining areas. Shortage of medical colleges in Bangladesh is one of the main reasons for dearth of qualified medical practitioners.
Bangladesh has enough teachers to impart medical courses at the graduate and post-graduate levels. As Narsingdi is one and a half hours' distance from Dhaka city, faculty members for a medical college will not be a problem.
Faculty members will rather be encouraged to serve in Narsingdi Medical College due to its proximity to Dhaka. It is a great advantage.
The government should utilize this opportunity and include in its list of projects a self-contained public medical college at Narsingdi so that more students in the country can get admission to study medicine and surgery.
With similar medical colleges set up in districts, quality of health care services will automatically improve.
Mohammad Ashraf Hossain
Masumpur, Narshindi Sadar, Narshindi.