Planning Minister MA Mannan on Friday said the government is working to provide better cancer treatment in the country. The minister said this while addressing at Dhaka Cancer Summit 2019 titled 'Sharing the experiences, Making the differences' organised by Medical Oncology Society in Bangladesh (MOSB) at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has instructed to establish specialized hospitals at eight divisions by 2022. We have cleared some medical projects on Tuesday last and some others are underway,” M A Mannan said. Thousands of patients from Bangladesh go abroad for treatment although the country has better medical institutions that provide good services, he added.
“We have to change our mentality about going abroad for treatment. We want to improve the medical sector,” he said. The minister acknowledged that Bangladesh lacks many things including infrastructure and knowledge. “We have to work in every sector to ensure better services for the people,” he said.
The Planning Minister urged doctors to work cordially at district and upazila levels. Professor Abul Ahsan Didar, convener of organising committee of the summit, delivered the welcome speech. Dhaka Medical College (DMC) Principal Professor Dr Khan Abul Kalam Azad urged the government to accept good plans for every sector.
“Skilled manpower is needed for providing better treatment in the country,” he added. Dr Md Rafiqul Islam, general secretary of MOSB, said the number of cancer patients in the country is increasing day by day whereas around 1,50,000 cancer patients die in the country every year. Professor Dr Kanak Kanti Barua, Vice-Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), said cancer is now a major challenge for the country.
He noted that this important sector did not have enough skilled manpower compared to the total population of the country. “So, we have to lay emphasis here,” he said. Among others, Professor Parveen Shahida Akhter, president of MOSB, Prof Dr MA Hai, chief patron of the summit, and Mohammad Ebadul Karim were also present.
