The government is planning to introduce locally manufactured electric ambulances to strengthen emergency healthcare services and improve access to patient transport across the country including the rural areas, reports UNB.
The issue was discussed at a meeting on the development of electric ambulances using local technology, held at the Prime Minister's Office on Saturday morning with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in the chair, said his Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.
He said the government is working to ensure ambulance services are available closer to people's doorsteps.
"To achieve this goal, the meeting was held today where detailed discussions took place and several decisions were made," Shiplu said.
He said the project will initially be launched in one upazila as a pilot programme.
"If the initiative proves successful, it will help meet the country's growing demand for ambulances and reduce dependence on imports," the deputy press secretary added.
The Prime Minister's Press Wing said the government is considering a three-tier ambulance service system.
Under the plan, different types of ambulances would be developed for transporting patients from villages to upazilas, from upazilas to districts, and from districts to the capital.
Experts and officials told the meeting that the initiative could reduce reliance on imported ambulances and make modern ambulance services available at a lower cost.
The vehicles would be designed taking into account Bangladesh's geographical conditions and road network.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain Bakul, State Minister MA Muhit, Prime Minister's Special Assistant on Health SM Ziauddin Haider and Health Services Secretary Kamruzzaman Chowdhury attended the meeting along with senior officials.
In another meeting, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday advised officials to select tree species for plantation programmes based on local soil characteristics and environmental conditions to ensure better survival rates and ecological benefits.
The meeting on the government's tree plantation programme was held at the Prime Minister's Office, said a release issued by the PM's Press Wing.
"Not all regions of the country have the same type of soil. Trees should be selected and planted according to the soil and environmental conditions of each area," the Prime Minister was quoted as saying.
The meeting also discussed the government's plan to plant 25 crore trees across the country over the next five years.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to formally launch the nationwide programme on June 14 at Dulahazara in Cox's Bazar.
