Health Minister Zahid Malek said that approximately 70,000 new personnel have been appointed over the past three years to enhance the quality of healthcare services in Bangladesh.
These appointments include 20,000 doctors, 30,000 nurses, and 20,000 other healthcare workers, he said.
The minister said this during his speech at the International Symposium titled "Advancing the Global Health Agenda from Nagasaki to the World," held at Nagasaki University School of Medicine Memorial Hall in Japan on Monday morning.
In his address, Minister Zahid Malek highlighted the efforts to improve the quality of hospital services in Bangladesh.
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He stated that around 500 upazilas in the country have transformed their hospitals from 25-bed to 50-bed with upgraded facilities.
“Each district hospital has been upgraded to 250 beds,l. Twenty-two modern medical institutes with 500 beds, 37 medical college hospitals with 1,000 beds and 5 medical universities have been built,” said the minister.
To enhance the quality of primary healthcare, the minister emphasised on the provision of free medication in remote areas.
He mentioned that 14,280 community clinics across the country offer 32 types of medicines free of cost.
Additionally, approximately 50,000 healthcare providers are delivering services in these clinics. 4,650 Union health centres are extending free medical services, counselling, and medicine distribution to individuals residing in remote regions, he continued.
Zahid Malek also presented statistical evidence regarding the country's progress in population control.
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He said, "After the independence of the country, every adult married woman in Bangladesh gave birth to an average of 6.9 children. At present, every woman is giving birth to an average of 2 children.”
He further mentioned that Bangladesh received the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) award from the United Nations in 2010 for its exceptional achievements in reducing child and maternal mortality rates.
The health minister also commended Bangladesh's success in vaccination.
He noted that in 1984, the vaccination rate stood at less than 2%, but by 2022, it had reached 92%.
Consequently, 92% of 12-13-year-old children in the country are now protected against tuberculosis, measles, polio, tetanus, and hepatitis, he added.
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Zahid Malek emphasised on the significant expansion of the pharmaceutical industry in Bangladesh.
He revealed that the country currently produces drugs worth $3.1 billion, meeting 97% of the nation's demand and earning foreign exchange through exports to approximately 80 countries worldwide.
Highlighting the country's achievements in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, the health minister stated that Bangladesh ranked fifth globally and emerged as the champion in South Asia.
He attributed this success to the vaccination of 90% of the target population within a short period.
Moreover, the country administered approximately 370 million doses of the vaccine free of charge, which contributed to minimising the impact of the virus, he said.
The minister also noted the significant expansion of hospital infrastructure, with the number of ICU beds increasing from 578 to 2,000 and the establishment of 120 central oxygen lines, up from just one central line oxygen plant.
Zahid Malek also expressed the government's plans to bring about significant changes in the healthcare system across the country through Universal Health Coverage.
He stressed the need for financial support from both national and international stakeholders to improve the treatment systems for non-communicable diseases and infectious diseases, as approximately 80% of total deaths in the country are currently caused by non-communicable diseases.
The minister expressed optimism regarding the involvement of Japan, the World Bank, and the World Health Organisation in the development of Bangladesh's healthcare system.