PM seeks doctors' help to implement SDG

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today sought doctors' sincere support to implement the 15-year Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) to make the country's healthcare system befitting to time.

"You have a very crucial role in implementing the SDG," she said while addressing 13th convocation of Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons (BCPS) at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh here.

The premier added: "Most talented students come to the (medical) profession. So talented persons should extend all support to the government to take forward the country."

Sheikh Hasina said the government took a 15-year SDG aimed at making the healthcare system befitting to time while a high-level committee has been formed to implement the goal and the government need all out cooperation of the physicians for its implementation.

She expressed her hope that BCPS would play its due role for development of human resources to implement the goal. "Medical service is not a profession only, it's a pious practice," she said.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim spoke on occasion as the special guest while BCPS President Professor M Sanawar Hossain delivered the convocation speech.

BCPS vice president Professor M Ruhul Amin gave the vote of thanks. Past BCPS President Professor SAM Golam Kibiria gave the welcome address. The Prime Minister entered the venue by leading a convocation procession. She wore a convocation gown on the occasion.

The Prime Minister said BCPS members became specialists in medical science by dint of their talent and sincerity and "so always you have to remember it and provide service to the patients".

"You have to nurture mentality of giving service in yourself and every patient should be treated as member of your own family," she said.

The premier said the doctors should not be unnerved in providing healthcare services even if pressures caused by the higher number of patients.

Sheikh Hasina said her government is working for widening the scope of higher education in medical science while specialised hospitals are being established one after another in the country and scholarships are being offered for higher studies including medical science from Prime Minister's Trust Fund.

She said the country in recent periods witnessed the epidemic like outbreak of some diseases like cancer, heart attack and kidney failure and acknowledged the need for establishing specialized hospitals at divisional, district and upazila levels for treatment of the diseases.

Sheikh Hasina said over the years the government has taken some steps for treatment of heart diseases across the country which facilitated giving at least primary treatment to the patients.

"We have to do more to expand the facilities," she said.

The Prime Minister also laid importance on construction of more child hospitals in the country as her government is taking measures to reach the healthcare services to the doorstep of the people.

Urging the well-off people to use their wealth for mankind the premier said they can donate for medical services in different hospitals, establish a ward in a hospital, give an ambulance or develop a hospital laboratory.

Sheikh Hasna said her government is making stride to build Bangladesh as a dignified and self-dependent nation. As a victorious nation, she said, Bangladesh would not bow head or beg to anybody.

"Bangladesh would be a hunger and poverty free country as dreamt by Father of the Nation and stand amidst world community keeping its head high, the Prime Minister said.

Source: BSS