All dist hospitals to have cancer units soon: Nasim

FE Team | Published: November 29, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

All district hospitals in the country will have a cancer unit soon, said Health and Family Welfare Minister Md Nasim, reports BSS.
"If money was available then every hospital would have a linear accelerator cobalt machine," he said this while speaking as chief guest at an international conference on head and neck oncology in the city Friday.
He said cancer is on the rise globally and we have to fight it with greater urgency than before. He referred to the tobacco consumption and drug use as possible reasons for the spread of the disease.
"Tobacco consumption has come down but we have to reduce it even further. But drug use among the young is on the rise. These issues need to be addressed if we are to cut down the incidence of cancer," he said.
He also appealed to the private sector to come forward in this sector. "No country in the world has solved its health problems by government initiative alone. The private sector has to come forward, too, "he said.
He also called upon the businessmen to keep health costs low so that it could be accessed by the poor.
Referring to the government's efforts in this sector, he said the government had established community clinics for every 6,000 people. So far, 2.7 million people have taken service from them.
A member of the Awami League presidium, Md Nasim, said the health sector should remain above politics, as all politicians want the betterment of people.
The conference was attended by representatives from 10 countries including India, Germany, United States, United Kingdom, Singapore, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Canada.
It is being organised by the Head and Neck Oncology Grou.
Dr Deen Mohammad Nurul Huq, director general of health directorate and Dr Pran Gopal Dutt, vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), among others, attended the conference.