“We’ve cleared some medical projects last Tuesday and some others are in the pipeline,” he said at Dhaka Cancer Summit 2019 held at a city hotel.

Medical Oncology Society in Bangladesh (MOSB) organised the event titled 'Sharing the experiences, Making the differences'.

Mannan said thousands of patients from Bangladesh go abroad for treatment although the country has better medical institutions that provide good services.

“We have to change our mentality about going abroad for treatment. We want to improve the medical sector,” he said.

The minister acknowledged that Bangladesh lacked many things including infrastructure and knowledge. “We have to work in every sector to ensure better services for the people,” he said.

Mannan urged the doctors to work cordially at district and upazila levels.

Prof Abul Ahsan Didar, convener of organising committee of the summit, delivered the welcome speech.

Dr Md Rafiqul Islam, General Secretary of MOSB, said the number of cancer patients in the country is increasing day by day.

“Around 1,50,000 cancer patients die in the country every year,” he said.

Dhaka Medical College (DMC) Principal Prof Dr Khan Abul Kalam Azad urged the government to adopt good plans for every sector.

“Skilled manpower is needed for providing better treatment in the country,” he added.

Prof Dr Kanak Kanti Barua, Vice-Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), said cancer is now a major challenge for the country.

He noted that this important sector did not have enough skilled manpower compared to the total population of the country. “So, we have to lay emphasis here,” he said.

Prof Parveen Shahida Akhter, president of MOSB, Prof Dr MA Hai, chief patron of the summit, and Mohammad Ebadul Karim, MP, and others were also present.