BSS, Dhaka :
Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim Wednesday called for increased allocation for the health sector in the new budget as the government would have to provide standard treatment side by side with other facilities for the people.
“The allocation already made for the health sector in the new budget is very low,” he said while briefing the media on the success of the just concluded 67th World Health Assembly on 19-24 May in Switzerland.
Nasim said he had discussed the health sector’s budget allocation with the Finance Minister as to why increased amount of money would be needed in this vast area in view of the peoples’ need in terms of treatment and other facilities as per the commitment of the government.
“Bangladesh is providing the world standard medical treatment at the cheapest cost as the community clinics are working as ‘nucleus’ for the development of the health sector,” he said adding that health experts from different countries including the World Health Organization (WHO) hailed the country’s health services. Mohammad Nasim said the approval of the resolution placed by Bangladesh titled Comprehensive and Coordinated efforts for the Management of Autism Spectrum Disorders by WHO was the main success of the country in the assembly. The resolution will allow the member states to keep autism in their public health policies in a way to adopt a comprehensive approach to address neuro-development disorders.
Another success is that Bangladesh will be given USD $ 150m from the global fund to eliminate HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria, he said. Seeking the international assistance to achieve MDG 5, the Minister expressed his gratitude to the Director-General of WHO Dr Margaret Chan for selecting Saima Wazed Hossain, daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, as a member of ‘Expert Advisory Panel’ on mental health. Health Secretary MM Niazuddin, Director General of Health Services Prof Dr Deen Muhammad Nurul Haque were also present at the briefing.
