PM orders authorities to issue 'e-health' card

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has given orders to issue "e-health" cards to ensure medical services to the public, reports bdnews24.com.

The directive came at a meeting involving the health minister, state minister, advisors and health experts, held at the Prime Minister's Office in the Secretariat on Wednesday.

Additional Press Secretary Atiqur Rahman Rumon said: "The prime minister has given appropriate instructions to the health minister to start work on launching the e-health card. The government's policy is to make sure healthcare services reach the people at their doorsteps. He has asked the ministry to be more proactive in this regard." During the meeting, discussions were also held on identifying abandoned buildings of different government ministries and agencies and bringing them under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to convert them into healthcare centres.

Rumon said, "There are 170 abandoned buildings under the LGED alone. The prime minister has said that such abandoned buildings under the government and its affiliated institutions and agencies must be developed into clinics and healthcare centres. He has directed the ministry accordingly."

The issue of population growth was also discussed at the meeting. Statistics show that around 3.4 million newborns are born each year in the country.

"The statistics on annual births were discussed at the meeting and concerns were raised. The ministry has been asked to step up efforts to control population growth," the additional press secretary said. He added that the meeting also discussed the recruitment of 100,000 health workers -- 80 per cent women and 20 per cent men -- in line with the BNP's election manifesto, as well as filling 74,000 vacant posts in the health ministry, including those for doctors and health workers.

The prime minister also urged the health minister to ensure that doctors attend to assigned health centres in remote areas.

Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain, State Minister MA Muhit and senior government officials were present at the meeting.