Setting up medical colleges in towns around Dhaka

Providing quality health services for the people of both rural and urban areas is the responsibility of the government. But many physicians in the country do not want to work in district-level hospitals. This problem has been persisting for long. To get over this, we need more physicians and more public medical colleges in various locations across the country. Narsingdi, Narayanganj, Munshiganj and Manikganj are very close to Dhaka city. One can reach these district towns in one and a half hours by road. These places could be appropriate locations for four full-fledged public medical colleges.
If set up, these medical colleges will undoubtedly improve the standard of health services for people of the districts and adjoining areas. The shortage of medical colleges in Bangladesh is one of the main reasons for the dearth of qualified medical practitioners. However, we have enough teachers to impart medical courses at the graduate and postgraduate levels. As these district towns are close to Dhaka city, faculty members for a medical college will not be a problem.
The government can capitalise on this and construct medical colleges in Narsingdi, Narayanganj, Munshiganj and Manikganj so that more students in the country can study medicine and surgery. The healthcare facilities in these towns are below par. A 500-bed government hospital along with a medical college can ensure quality healthcare facilities. The construction of these medical colleges will also help decentralisation of Dhaka city. Excess doctors could be sent abroad with employment. They would increase the inflow of remittance, as well.

Md Ashraf Hossain,
120, Middle Bashabo, Dhaka-1214,
tahrimanithi@gmail.com