Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque said on Wednesday that cancer and kidney hospitals would be set up in each division. At the same time, the government will construct a five-bed kidney dialysis center in every district of the country. The project currently is in the Ministry of Planning. The Health Minister hopes that the project will be approved in the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting very shortly.
He briefed reporters after the 4th session of the 4th day of the Deputy Commissioners’ (DC) conference held in the Secretariat office on Wednesday. The Minister said, “The number of heart, cancer, and kidney patients are rapidly increasing day by day. The reason behind this is adulterated food and environmental pollution.”
The Minister instructed the participating DCs to raise surveillance in their respective areas and create awareness about food adulteration and environmental pollution. Replying to a query the Health Minister also said, “Without proper prescription by certified doctor no pharmacy should sell any drug. It is a well-known worldwide practice. The use of antibiotics in our food chain entering from poultry, fishery and animal farms is quite alarming. He warned not to use antibiotics that are not registered in Bangladesh.
There are modern health services available in the district-Upazila hospitals, the Minister claimed. He also admitted that there were certain problems with the availability of doctors, medicines and diagnostic facilities but those are now well addressed with the strengthening of the vigilance system.