LGRD ministry decides to run community clinics

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The Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives (LGRD) Ministry has decided to run all community clinics meant to deliver primary healthcare services at grassroots level.
The ministry took the decision to take charge of about 11,000 community clinics built at union levels at a meeting Tuesday that also approved budget for Zila Parishads (district councils), reports bdnews24.com.
Among others, LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal and Secretary Safar Raz Hossain were present at the meeting.
"We have approved Tk 3.48 billion budget for 61 districts and hope to collect Tk 1.91 billion in revenue," Iqbal told reporters after the meeting.
"Of the total budget, Tk 1.57 billion is included as the government's Annual Develop-ment Programme (ADP)," he said.
The adviser said the ministry expects to earn an additional Tk 450 million in revenue this year from leased-out local markets.
The adviser said the community clinics did not function under the Health Ministry and they would be run under district councils.
He mentioned that foreign donors were willing to offer assistance to run those clinics if needed.
Iqbal told reporters that museum-cum-libraries in memory of the liberation war martyrs would be built in 10 districts.
In memory of the National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, special memorials would be built across the country including in Dhaka University Nazrul Mazar, Mymensingh's Trishal and Comilla.
On recruitment of administrators for Zila Parishads, the adviser said: "As per the District Council Act there is scope for appointing administrators.
"However, as per the constitution there is no provision for appointing such administrators to the local government body."