Khulna, Jan 08 (V7N)- The Health Sector Reform Commission's view-sharing meeting was held at the conference room of Khulna Medical College today (Wednesday) afternoon. Health Sector Reform Commission member MM Reza was the chief guest.

The chief guest at the meeting said that two things need to be considered to make the health sector people-oriented and accessible to all. The first is to increase the amount of services so that everyone gets the service, and the second is to bring the person under the health coverage despite his financial limitations. If this is not done, some people may get advanced medical services but a large number of people will not get them. There is an opportunity to discuss what can be done to increase the efficiency of the government health sector and eliminate corruption.

He said that in the last 50 years after independence, just as the scope of the government sector in the health sector of Bangladesh has increased, so has the private sector in this sector. The number of health education in the private sector, such as medical colleges and nursing colleges, has increased. The total number of beds in private hospitals and clinics is more than the total number of beds in government-level healthcare institutions. In some cases, they also have more laboratory facilities. He further said that to improve the healthcare situation, it is necessary to think about the quality and cost of services, especially in the private sector as well as the government, to improve the service delivery situation.

The participants' speeches at the event highlighted the areas of limitation in the provision of services by government institutions providing healthcare services and the issue of eliminating the shortage of medical equipment. At the same time, it was stated that it is necessary to stop corruption at the field level and at the central level in the health sector, to bring the student-teacher ratio to a standard level in health education, including medical and nursing colleges, to promote doctors at the right time, and to take appropriate measures to prevent opportunities for political interference in the health sector. Again, the participants discussed various issues including keeping the pathology and diagnostic testing system like the emergency department of government hospitals open 24 hours a day, and making hospitals broker-free.

In the view-sharing meeting held under the chairmanship of Khulna Divisional Commissioner Md. Firoz Sarkar, members of the Health Sector Reform Commission, Professor Dr. Naila Zaman Khan, Dr. Syed Md. Akram Hossain, Khulna Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Saiful Islam, Director of the Divisional Health Department Dr. Md. Manjurul Murshid, Principal of Khulna Medical College Dr. Deen Ul Islam, officials from various departments related to health and family welfare, representatives of the Metropolitan and District Police, civil surgeons of various districts, upazila health and family planning officers, representatives of private health care providers, media personnel, representatives of professional medical organizations, representatives of civil society, student representatives of the anti-discrimination movement, NGOs, students of medical and nursing colleges were present and expressed their opinions.

END/SDA/AJ