“I would like to request all the teachers, doctors, officials, nurses and employees of the university that you dedicate yourselves to providing healthcare services to people. If so, the university will be able to reach its desired destination,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina was addressing a function after laying the foundation stone of the Super Specialised Hospital of Bangabanhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).
The Prime Minister also opened the new structures constructed under the Centre of Excellence Project at BSMMU. The structures include convention centre, doctors’ dormitory, and diagnostics and oncology building of the university.
Sheikh Hasina stressed the need for a greater focus on medical research at the university.
“You’ll have to enhance concentration on research further. You’ll have to take effective measures so that people can stay away from diseases. You’ll have to enhance public awareness about health. We, on our government part, will keep extending all sorts of assistance to you,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina hoped that the Super Specialised Hospital will be a full-fledged research centre.
The Prime Minister said she formed a separate fund providing Tk 10 crore when the BSMMU was established so that ultra-poor patients can receive treatment availing of support from the interest of the fund.
Hasina said she will provide Tk 10 crore more to the fund from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.
Noting that now there are many rich families in the country who want to receive treatment abroad in case of any minor disease, she said, “I don’t mind with it though many people think they should receive treatment in Dhaka not going abroad.”
“I don’t have objection if rich people go abroad to receive treatment because the common people -- from the lower and middle classes --will get greater scope to receive treatment here,” she added.
Hasina said the Awami League government established the country’s first medical university, BSMMU, in 1997 facing many challenges. Assuming power in 2009, her government also set up two more medical universities in Chattogram and Rajshahi, and started the process to establish Sylhet Medical University.
“A bill will be placed in the Jatiya Sangsad today (Thursday) to set up the Sylhet Medical University,” she said adding that government has a plan to set up a medical university in every division of the country, if they can assume power for the next time.
She said her government established five medical colleges at a time and has already given approval to set up four new medical colleges in Noagaon, Netrakona, Magura and Nilphamari. Besides, the government will give approval to another medical college in Chandpur.
All public and private medical colleges from Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions will have to be affiliated with the Rajshahi Medical University, while the medical colleges from Chattogram and Sylhet with the respective divisional medical universities. The medical colleges, except Dhaka Medical College, from all other divisions, including Mymensingh, Khulna and Barishal, must be affiliated with the BSMMU. Dhaka Medical College will remain affiliated with Dhaka University.
Sheikh Hasina said it is necessary to monitor whether quality doctors come out from the medical colleges.
She emphasised construction of a separate dormitory for nurses alongside doctors’ dormitory at the BSMMU.
The Prime Minister said the government continues implementation of many plans to turn BSMMU into a centre of excellence.
Focusing on the socio-economic development, she said her government has been able reach all sorts of services to the doorsteps of the people in the country in the last nine and a half years after assuming power in 2009.
Project Director of the hospital Prof Zulfiqur Rahman Khan made a presentation on the project at the function.
In his presentation, Prof Zulfiqur Rahman said the 13-storey hospital will be the first-ever super-specialised hospital in the country. The 1000-bed hospital will provide centre-based medical services to 5000-8000 patients a day, he added.
The hospital is being constructed on 3.8 acres of land on the northern side of the BSMMU spending Tk 1,366 crore. Of the project cost, South Korea will provide Tk 1,047 crore as low interest loan with 40 years of repayment period.
At the hospital, he said, there will be Centre for Specialised Autism and Maternal and Child Care, Emergency Medical Care Centre, Hepatobiliary and Gastroenterology Centre, Cardio and Cerebrovascular Centre, Kidney Centre, and Respiratory Medicine Centre, General Surgery Centre, Ophthalmology/Dentistry/Dermatology Centre, Physical Medicine/ Rehabilitation Centre.
As per directives of the Prime Minister, there will be gardens around the hospital, sunken gardens, rooftop gardens and other environment-friendly facilities which will be run fully in digital system.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Health and Family Welfare Ministry Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, MP also spoke at the function held with BSMMU Vice Chancellor Prof Kanak Kanti Barua in the chair.