It needs no emphasising that the government’s inclusive measures to provide treatment in rural people’s doorsteps have seen remarkable success. Amid the pandemic, thousands of community clinics in rural areas are providing treatment and diagnosis to the grassroots people.
The incumbent government deserves kudos for its relentless effort for prioritising the need for establishing community clinics. The clinics are doing a good job of counselling on the consequences of early marriage in Bangladesh. Community clinics have been playing an epoch-making role in improving the overall antenatal and postnatal care, family planning and nutritional services, providing treatment for diarrhea, pneumonia and other childhood infections.
By providing necessary healthcare services at the doorsteps of millions of rural people, community clinics have proved to be an efficient and low-cost primary healthcare provider at the grassroots level. With the integration of ‘Community Clinic Health Assistance Trust Act’, millions of people are getting services from the community clinics whereas just a decade ago healthcare facilities in the rural areas were very poor and at some places it was something unheard of. Thus, community clinics of the country have become a reference point as to how a country can successfully raise the primary healthcare following the Bangladesh model.
Doctors must be trained and
motivated to work in rural areas and the government should offer
adequate
amenities and incentives to them
Reportedly, there are more than 18,000 community clinics at present in the country and the number is gradually increasing. However, now what is needed is to ensure comprehensive healthcare services to the rural people, and in order to do that the government should look forward to equipping the clinics with adequate facilities and skilled manpower.
For further development of community clinics in the country, intervention of both public and private organisations is crucial. In this regard, corporate houses can play an effective role by spending a portion of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund to develop the country’s healthcare sector.
Successful operation of community clinics, especially in rural areas, depends on people with required skills. Doctors must be trained and motivated to work in rural areas and the government should offer adequate amenities and incentives to them. Also, there is a need to motivate the rural people for availing of health services at the community clinic.
