Nat’l e-health platform in the works
Limited access to healthcare services and the need for more efficient coordination among medical facilities have prompted the government to move towards an integrated digital health system, with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman directing authorities to begin a pilot project for a proposed National e-Health Platform.
The initiative aims to bring healthcare information and services under a unified digital framework, making medical services more accessible to ordinary people while enabling doctors and healthcare institutions to access relevant patient information when needed.
The directive came at a meeting on integrated information technology systems in the health sector at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon on Saturday, chaired by the Prime Minister.
The meeting discussed the proposed structure, management system and potential applications of the National e-Health Platform, Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu said.
Under the initial plan, the platform will be piloted in several districts to assess its effectiveness, identify potential challenges, estimate costs and determine its overall feasibility.
The government will consider gradually expanding the system after reviewing the findings and experience from the pilot phase.
Tarique Rahman instructed the authorities to ensure that information technology is used effectively in the healthcare sector so that people can access medical services more easily and conveniently.
He placed particular emphasis on the secure storage of patients’ health information and ensuring that necessary medical data can be made available to authorised doctors and healthcare institutions when required.
The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of data security and privacy, directing officials to ensure that the proposed platform is user-friendly, cost-effective and sustainable in the long term.
He further instructed the authorities to conduct a proper assessment of the pilot project’s results before proceeding with any wider implementation.
Engineer Zakaria Swapan made a presentation at the meeting outlining various aspects of the proposed National e-Health Platform.
The platform is expected to provide an integrated framework for managing healthcare information and improving coordination across the health system.
However, the government plans to assess its practical effectiveness and challenges through the pilot project before taking a decision on nationwide expansion.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain, State Minister Dr MA Muhit, Prime Minister’s Special Assistants Dr SM Ziauddin Hyder and Dr Shakirul Islam Khan, Health Services Division Secretary Md Quamruzzaman Chowdhury, ICT Secretary Md Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan and senior officials concerned attended the meeting.
