Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday asked the physicians to dedicate themselves to extensively serve the general people and behave well with patients.

“I would like to request the doctors to dedicate themselves more extensively in providing healthcare services to the general and poor people of the country. You’ll have to go to villages and take care of the rural people. You’ll have to behave well with them,” she said.

The premier said this while inaugurating the newly constructed Super Specialized Hospital in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) through a virtual platform from her official residence Ganobhaban.

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The country’s first super specialized hospital will be an alternative option for many Bangladeshis opting to go abroad for treatment.

A patient will get comprehensive treatments at the five centres of the 750-bed hospital as each centre will have different departments and disciplines. Some 5,000-8,000 patients will also receive outdoor services at the hospital.

Hasina said the poor people largely receive treatment from government hospitals. “If you perform your duty rightly, the common people will keep trust and confidence on you and they will get the services easily,” she said.  

She said that if a patient hears comforting positive words from a doctor, 50 per cent of his/her disease would be cured in many cases. She urged every physician to be sincere in this regard.  

The prime minister said there are many private hospitals and the affluent people avail the services there. But the general people go to the government hospitals including the BSMMU hospital. “So, you will have to pay special attention so that the poor and unhappy people would get the quality services there,” she said.

Put more emphasis on medical research: PM to health experts  

Noting that research in the field of health is still insufficient in the country, Hasina asked the specialised doctors to conduct research alongside providing healthcare services.

She said BSMMU will have to continue its relentless endeavors for the quality improvement of its education, healthcare services and research activities.

“I thank you for what you are doing now. But you will have to put further importance on research,” she said, expressing hope that the BSMMU will create the new scope in medical education.

The PM also hoped that the country’s physicians would be able to open a new era of healthcare services through their research.

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Be more liberal to receive trainings from int’l experts: PM to local doctors

Sheikh Hasina said the country’s doctors need to be more open to allow the world celebrated doctors and teachers here in Bangladesh to get training and experiences from them. “If the door is kept closed, the light and air will not enter from outside. If you open it, it will be easier to gain experience,” she said.  

Reinforce online healthcare service system: Hasina

Noting that the country is now Digital Bangladesh, the PM said her government introduced the online healthcare service so that the rural people can avail it while staying at Upazila level.

She asked BSMMU to strengthen the online system to provide its expert services to the rural people through web cameras so that they would not need to come to the capital.

About the newly constructed super specialized hospital,  Hasina said the centre-based healthcare delivery services would be introduced for the first time in the country, which is seen in the developed world.

She said Bangladesh will be able to save some Tk 350 crore annually due to this hospital.

The premier said the hospital equipped with the latest hospital information system will open a new era of medical research as all information regarding the operation of this hospital and treatment will be stored automatically.

Health Minister Zahid Maleque, secretary of Health Education Division Md Saiful Hassan Badal and Ambassador of Republic of Korea to Bangladesh Lee Jang-Keun spoke on the occasion.

BSMMU Vice Chancellor Dr Sharfuddin Ahmed delivered the welcome speech.

The 13-storey super specialised hospital (with two basements) has been built at a cost of Tk 1,561 crore on 3.4 acres of land on the north side of BSMMU.  Of the cost, Tk 1,047 crore came as a loan from the South Korean government.