Newly appointed Health and Family Welfare Minister Professor Dr. Samanta Lal Sen has said that he has never been corrupt and will never tolerate corruption.
“Zero tolerance policy will be adopted to prevent corruption in the health sector. However, special focus will be given on village hospitals to ensure medical services to marginalized communities,” he said while sharing his reaction on the first day as the minister.
The noted physician joined his office as the new health minister on Sunday (January 14) after he was sworn in on Thursday.
Officials and employees of the Health and Family Welfare Ministry welcomed Dr. Samanta Lal Sen with flowers after he arrived at the ministry office in Bangladesh Secretariat.
Later, he talked to journalists at press briefing at the ministry office. Secretary of Health Services Division of the ministry Jahangir Alam, Secretary of Medical Education and Family Welfare Division Azizur Rahman, Director General of Directorate General of the Health Services (DGHS) Professor Dr ABM Khurshid Alam, Director General of Directorate General of Family Planning Shahan Ara Banu, Director General of Directorate General of Medical Education (DGME) Prof Dr Titu Miah, Vice Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Professor Dr Sharfuddin Ahmed and other senior officials of the ministry were present at the time.
Professor Dr. Samanta Lal Sen said, “Nothing is impossible if we all work sincerely. It took a lot of trouble to bring the burn unit from five to five hundred beds. Many people have turned me away and thrown away files, there are cases like that too. But I have reached this place with patience and everyone’s support.”
Regarding increasing services in government hospitals, he said, “The prime minister told me that I should visit the hospitals of the country myself and take effective measures. I will very soon visit the hospitals from one end of the country to the other and take action. My special focus will be on village hospitals.”
He also said, “We will work to ensure that the people of the village do not have to come to Dhaka for medical care, but get better treatment from the village itself. I will go to every hospital. I will know what the problem is. Then I will make an action plan.”
Professor Dr. Samanta Lal Sen said that the Ministry of Health will work on how to provide better treatment in remote areas. Health services will be decentralized to reduce the pressure on patients in Dhaka. If you work with sincerity it is possible to face the challenges of the health sector. Planning will be done with everyone.
In response to a question from journalists, the minister said, “Opening a medical college is not necessary. There will be many things including doctors. I will see all the things. We have to talk to them to find out the reason why there are no doctors in the village. I will take action after seeing everything.”
Professor Dr. Samanta Lal Sen was born on 24 November 1949 in Nagura village of Habiganj. He completed his secondary from St. Phillips High School in 1964 and higher secondary from Surendranath College. He passed MBBS from Chittagong Medical College in 1973. In 1980, he obtained the degree of 'Diploma in Specialized Surgery' from Vienna, Austria.Later he received further training in surgery in Germany and England.
Dr. Samanta Lal Sen was awarded an honorary fellowship by Bangla Academy in 2018 for his special contribution to medical care. He is also serving as the President of Bangladesh Plastic Surgeon Society.