The proposed budget for fiscal year 2015-16 has stressed on delivering health services more digitally by distributing 13,861 mini laptops and mobile phones among the community clinics aiming to enable the rural people to avail telemedicine services.
Keeping the new initiatives like expansion of telemedicine service and health service through mobile phones and ongoing programmes like maternal health voucher scheme and emergency maternity services in mind, the finance minister has proposed Tk 126.95 billion for health ministry for fiscal year (FY) 2015-16.
The amount has been increased by 10 per cent from the revised budget of Tk 115.37 billion for the FY 2014-15.
The proposed amount was Tk 111.46 billion in FY 2014-15 and actual Tk 93.84 billion in FY 2013-14.
"I propose allocation of Tk 126.95 billion for the health ministry for FY 2015-16," said finance minister AMA Muhith in his budget speech Thursday.
He said the government was planning to distribute 13,861 mini laptops among the community clinics to bring the slogan 'A Mini Laptop will be a Digital Doctor' into fruition. This programme will enable the rural people to avail telemedicine services and keep themselves updated with the latest information on health related issues and education.
"We have undertaken a programme to provide health services through mobile phones in 64 zila and 418 upazila hospitals. Side by side, zila and upazila health complexes will continue to provide health services through video conferencing," said the minister.
He said Maternal Health Voucher Scheme for the poor, distressed and pregnant mothers is in operation in 53 upazilas. Initiatives have been taken to expand this programme to another 20 upazilas. Besides, emergency maternity services have been strengthened in 132 upazilas.
Besides, the government is formulating the 'National Drug Policy 2014'to modernise public health system, working to integrate and update different amendments to make Drug Control Ordinance,1982, Drug Act, 1940, and Drug Rules, 1945 and 1946 time befitting, he added.
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