State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak has sought cooperation from the US-based tech giant Intel Corporation to develop cost effective healthcare services using the frontier technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning.

The request was made to Intel Corporation Chairman Dr Omar Ishrak during a meeting with Palak at the mini conference room of the IDEA project of ICT Division on Monday.

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Palak said the 18,000 community health clinics and 8,000 digital centres could play an effective role to implement any initiative in this regard.

Responding positively to Bangladesh proposal Dr Ishrak said that three things --- collection of patients’ data, preparing a standard guideline and connecting people with the guideline--are very important to develop a cost effective healthcare services.

About using technology during Covid pandemic, Palak said “We have been able to keep functioning of all including the activities of office, courts, and business using IT during Covid-19 pandemic.”

Besides, some 7.5 crore people made registration using `Surokhha’, a platform developed by the ICT Division for conducting the vaccine management activities smoothly, the state minister added.

He also pointed out the benefits of implementation of Digital Bangladesh.

Read:Remotest region to connect with broadband internet by 2025: Palak

He said the digital economy has flourished in the country increasing ICT exports to $1.3 billion against exports of $26 million in 2008. “The government has now fixed the target of ICT export $5billion by 2025,” he added.

Palak said the people do not need to run for receiving services as the government has digitized 2000 services ensuring its easy access to the people.

ICT Senior Secretary N M Zeaul Alam, Director of National Data Center and LICT Project Director Tarique M Barkatullah, IT-ITES Policy Adviser of LICT Project Sami Ahmed, Country Director of Medtronic Bangladesh Farruk Alam, IDEA Project Director Md. Abdur Rakib were present at the meeting.