'We want to build a state where no one is deprived of healthcare'

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said that the government is committed to building a welfare-oriented state where no one will be deprived of healthcare due to financial issues.

He made the remarks at the inauguration of Building-2 of the 500-bed National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital on Saturday morning.

Referring to the expansion of the hospital, the prime minister said the new building would significantly increase the institution’s capacity to provide healthcare.

“Equipped with modern ICUs, operating theatres, advanced diagnostic facilities and specialised wards, this new building will not only increase the hospital’s capacity to admit patients but also, I believe, serve as a major milestone in healthcare, research and higher education.''

He said technology alone cannot make a healthcare system better; mindset is equally important.

“Technology can detect diseases, but there is no substitute for the humane behaviour of doctors when it comes to understanding patients’ fear, anxiety and mental distress and reassuring them.”

The prime minister said the current government is taking various measures to ensure affordable and quality healthcare for people in remote areas, low-income communities and marginalised groups.

He said, “We are working to ensure that a patient from a remote area does not have to spend a huge amount of money travelling to the capital for treatment.” 

To this end, the government is working to establish a modern and effective referral system through e-health cards while bringing healthcare facilities closer to people’s doorsteps, Tarique Rahman said.

He added that during the current government’s tenure, every upazila hospital would gradually be upgraded to a 151-bed facility

The head of government said compassionate behaviour toward patients, listening attentively to them, understanding their mental condition and treating them with respect can significantly improve the quality of healthcare.