Bangladesh stresses stronger health co-op with China

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain has stressed the importance of physician training, healthcare worker exchanges, joint research and the transfer of advanced health technologies to further strengthen cooperation between Bangladesh and China in the health sector.

He said Bangladesh and China have maintained a long-standing friendly relationship in public health and medical services. To make the relationship more effective and productive, he said, practical cooperation between health institutions of the two countries needs to be expanded. 

The minister made the proposals during bilateral discussions with the authorities of Hainan General People’s Hospital after visiting the facility in Haikou, the capital of China’s Hainan province, on Friday, according to a press statement from the Health Ministry.

During the meeting, the health minister also called on Chinese medical institutions and investors to come forward with investments in Bangladesh and help establish modern, quality hospitals. He said the Bangladesh government would provide necessary policy support and security assurances for joint project involving Chinese investors and the health sector.

The health minister also requested the Hainan General People’s Hospital to provide special medical facilities and discounts to make healthcare more accessible to Bangladeshi patients. In response, the hospital authorities agreed to introduce a special Green Medical Channel and special discounts for Bangladeshi patients.

Hospital President Zhang Jun welcomed the proposals from the Bangladeshi side and expressed interest in further strengthening cooperation with Bangladesh in manpower training, technological innovation, hospital management and the development of the healthcare industry.