Swachip seeks more medical universities

Pro-government doctors' association have demanded more medical universities in Bangladesh, reports bdnews24.com. Leaders of Swadhinata Chikitshok Parishad (Swachip), a forum of pro-ruling Awami League physicians, raised the demand Thursday at Dhaka Medical College while observing the 40th anniversary of the provisional government of independent Bangladesh, better known as Mujibnagar Government. A few of them said medical education, service and standards would receive a boost under autonomous authorities of universities. The lone medical university Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) was established in 1998 when the former Institute of Postgraduate Medical College in the city's Shahbagh was upgraded. Swachip Senior Vice-president Prof Abu Shafi Ahmed Amin said five or six more medical universities would lead to better services, standards and education. Health and Population Secretary of the ruling Awami League Dr Badiuzzaman Bhuiyan called upon the doctors to press on with the demand. "It there could be many agriculture universities, engineering universities, then why not more medical universities," he argued. Health Minister AFM Ruhal Haque, also the president of SWACHIP, urged his colleagues to demand several medical universities. "I am with you.you come up with your demand," he told the doctors. Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid at Sylhet Osmani Medical College auditorium on April 16 also said the government had a plan to turn some of the medical colleges into universities. He added Sylhet Osmani Medical College would get priority during the implementation of the upgrading plans.