President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday called for ensuring world-class medical services, encompassing modern technology, skilled specialist doctors and a patient-friendly environment in Bangladesh, to reduce the growing tendency of patients to seek treatment abroad.
He said many Bangladeshi patients were compelled to travel overseas for advanced treatment due to limitations in specialised healthcare, modern technology and medical expertise, as well as concerns over service quality and public confidence in the country's healthcare system.
As a result, a substantial amount of money was spent abroad every year, he said, stressing the need to strengthen domestic healthcare facilities to reverse the trend.
The president made the remarks while inaugurating a two-day conference titled “Colorectal Surgery Conference 2026” at the Shaheed Abu Sayeed International Convention Centre in the capital.
He said Bangladesh must develop a modern, affordable and people-oriented healthcare system by improving service quality, recruiting skilled professionals, adopting modern technologies and ensuring accountability.
Highlighting the importance of compassion in medical services, Mirza Fakhrul said medicine was not merely a profession but a noble responsibility involving human life, dignity and hope.
He stressed the need for treating patients with empathy, explaining medical conditions and treatment procedures to patients and their family members in simple language, maintaining clean and safe healthcare environments, and showing special consideration for underprivileged patients.
“Collective efforts must be made to ensure that no one is deprived of necessary treatment because of financial hardship,” he said.
Referring to the challenges facing the country's health sector, the president said Bangladesh's healthcare system had failed to achieve the desired progress over the past 17 years due to what he described as fascist rule, mismanagement, rampant corruption and unplanned decisions.
Ordinary people had been deprived of timely treatment, medicines and essential services at government hospitals, he said.
He also criticised the purchase of expensive medical equipment without ensuring the necessary infrastructure and skilled manpower to operate it. Many machines remained unused due to infrastructure shortages, while laboratory equipment was procured without the required technicians and support staff, he said.
Prolonged stagnation in the recruitment of doctors, nurses and technicians had further complicated the situation, he added.
Drawing lessons from these shortcomings, the president called for realistic and well-planned initiatives, skilled manpower, people-friendly policies, accountability and transparency in the use of public funds to improve the health sector.
He also recalled with respect various initiatives taken by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to develop healthcare in the country.
Highlighting the current government's initiatives, Mirza Fakhrul said the government had allocated Tk 69,409 crore for the health sector in the 2026-27 fiscal year, the highest allocation in the country's history.
He stressed that every taka of the allocation must be used effectively, appropriately and transparently.
The government has also taken initiatives to gradually upgrade 100-bed hospitals to 150-bed facilities, expand healthcare services at local and upazila levels, and recruit doctors, nurses, midwives, technicians and other health workers, he said.
Turning to colorectal diseases, the president said a significant number of people in Bangladesh suffered from such conditions, but many delayed seeking medical attention due to embarrassment, social stigma and a lack of awareness, allowing their illnesses to become more complicated.
He called for greater public awareness, early diagnosis and the expansion of accessible specialised treatment to address the problem.
Responding to a demand raised at the conference for establishing a National Institute of Colorectal Surgery, the president assured the organisers of appropriate cooperation in this regard.
Wishing the conference every success, he said participants would benefit from the knowledge and experience of leading surgeons from around the world and should use that opportunity to improve healthcare for ordinary people.
He expressed hope that their efforts would help Bangladesh move towards a modern, affordable, accountable and people-friendly healthcare system.
Earlier, the Bangladesh Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (BSCRS) presented a crest to the president in recognition of his participation.
The conference was chaired by BSCRS President Professor Dr Rashidul Islam, while the organisation's adviser, Professor Dr Sahadat Hossain Sheikh, delivered the welcome address.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain, BNP Standing Committee member Dr Farhad Halim Donar, Bangladesh Medical University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr FM Siddiqui, Doctors Association of Bangladesh President Professor Dr Harun Or Rashid, Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons President Professor Dr Moudud Hossain Alamgir, former Bangladesh Medical Association President Professor Dr AKM Azizul Haque and Doctors Association of Bangladesh Secretary General Dr Md Zahirul Islam Shakil also spoke at the event.
The two-day international conference will bring together local and foreign specialists to train young Bangladeshi doctors in various aspects of colorectal surgery and exchange professional knowledge and experience.