President Abdul Hamid on Monday urged the physicians and the authorities concerned to find out the reasons why people go abroad for medical treatment despite having many reputed doctors and hospitals.

"Despite having many reputed doctors and medical institutions in our country about 25 lakh Bangladeshis go abroad for treatment every year. So we have to think where the real problem is," he said.

He said this in the fourth convocation of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Medical University held at Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Convention Hall in the city.

The president and chancellor of the university Abdul Hamid presided over the event while vice-chancellor Professor Dr Sharfuddin Ahmed delivered the welcome speech.

Saying that a doctor must first be a good listener to gain the trust of the patient, Hamid said many things may seem irrelevant but it is a matter of emotional satisfaction for the patient. So the patient should be treated with sufficient time, he said.

He said reports of various inducements by pharmaceutical companies to prescribe drugs to patients often appear in the press.

Emphasising on avoiding this sick and unfair competition, Hamid said the issue of introducing Generic Name like abroad should be considered.

Hamid mentioned that the number of doctors and nurses in proportion to the population in the country is insufficient and the number of specialist doctors is also less than the demand.

"Many are being deprived of specialised treatment. You know humanitarianism is a divine virtue. Unwell people rely on a doctor and a nurse after God. Your kindness and treatment is a must for any patient," he said.

The President said if doctors work with a generous mind, they can be considered a good doctor as well as a great person among the public.

Calling this university as a repository of knowledge not only in the field of medical services but also in all fields of research and medical science, Hamid asked the new graduates to maintain its continuity in their life what they have learned and seen here.

Saying Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University as the birthplace of experts in medical related subjects, he said that the result of their hard work is the country's expert doctors, medical scientists and medical teachers.

"There is no substitute for research in improving the quality of education, while our medical education has very little research," he added.

Emphasising on own research, Hamid said types of disease in our country are different from developed and western countries. That is why own research work can only make the real solution available to the patients of this country by inventing effective and affordable treatment methods for diverse diseases of this country.

Health Minister Zahid Maleque and Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni spoke as special guests while Prof Rajvardhan Azad, chairman of University Service Commission, Bihar, India was the convocation speaker.

The Institute of Postgraduate Medical Research (IPGMR) was converted into BSMMU in 1998. The last convocation of the university was held in 2018, before the global outbreak of Covid-19.