United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday directed the authorities concerned to introduce ‘e-Health’ card to ensure medical services for people across the country, reaffirming the government’s commitment to delivering healthcare at the doorstep. The directive came at a meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office at Secretariat with the Health Minister, State Minister, advisers and health experts, said Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon. He said the Prime Minister instructed the Health Minister to start work on launching the e-Health card without delay. PM Tarique praises role of Ansar-VDP; assures continued support for development “The government’s policy is to ensure healthcare services reach the people’s doorsteps. The Prime Minister asked the ministry to be more proactive in this regard,” he said. The meeting also discussed identifying abandoned buildings of different government ministries and agencies and converting them into health and family welfare centres under the Health Ministry. The Additional Press Secretary said there are 170 abandoned buildings under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) alone. “The Prime Minister directed that such unused government facilities be renovated and turned into clinics and healthcare centres.” Rumon said the issue of population growth also came up at the meeting. PM Tarique orders women-only bus service in Dhaka “Statistics show that around 3.4 million babies are born in the country every year. Concern was expressed over the annual number of newborns and the ministry was asked to intensify efforts to control population growth, “ he said. He said the meeting further discussed recruitment of 100,000 health workers in line with the BNP’s electoral pledge, with 80 per cent women and 20 per cent men. “Filling vacant posts of doctors and other health staff in the ministry was also reviewed.” Rumon said the Prime Minister asked the minister concerned to ensure that doctors are posted and remain present at health centres in remote areas. Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain, State Minister MA Muhith and senior officials were present. Tree plantation drive to be intensified Earlier in the morning, Rumon said a meeting of the cell formed to implement the plan to plant 25 crore trees in five years was held at the Cabinet Division conference room with the Prime Minister in the chair.