The proposed budget for the fiscal year (FY) 2020-21 has allocated Tk 10,000 crore to meet urgent needs and save lives from coronavirus. Apart from this, special activities worth Tk 5,500 crore are being implemented under the health services department to deal with the deadly virus.
Besides, two projects have been taken as an emergency measure to deal with the Covid-19 epidemic. Meanwhile, Tk 2,493 crore is being spent on these two projects.
On the other hand, Tk 529 crore has been allocated in the current budget to ensure fast service of corona treatment. In addition, Tk 850 crore has been allocated for the compensation of officers of different departments and for doctors, nurses and health workers engaged in medical treatment.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said that Bangladesh's capacity to deal with Covid-19 has increased. Work has been started to implement the National Preparedness and Response Plan for further protection of life by ensuring that medical system is capable of dealing with Covid-19.
Apart from this, some 2,000 doctors and 6,000 nurses have been recruited. In addition, 386 medical technologists, 2,654 lab attendants and other health workers have been recruited on an emergency basis through outsourcing. In addition, a total of 3,000 new posts of 1,200 medical technologists, 1,650 medical technicians and 150 cardiographers have been created in the revenue sector. Even against these posts, a large budget has to be allocated. That amount is about 4 thousand crore taka.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on Thursday made the proposal in the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2020-21, entitled 'Economic Transition and Future Paths'. He said specialized isolation units have been set up in hospitals and health centers in every district and upazila to deal with corona.
Centrally, dedicated hospitals to treat Covid-19 patients have been set up and started in every district town including 14 in the capital for the treatment of corona sufferers.
So far, 55 laboratories have been set up for the diagnosis of corona and various government healthcare facilities are being converted into modern and improved service delivery institutions. For this, the minister has allocated Tk 529 crore in the health sector on an emergency basis.