Minister pledges lion’s share of health budget for cancer care

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain on Monday said the lion’s share of the health budget would be allocated to cancer treatment, if necessary, pledging to expedite the installation of modern equipment.

“Delays in the installation and commissioning of modern equipment for cancer treatment will be removed. Initiatives will also be taken, with the Prime Minister’s support, to ensure duty-free import facilities for such equipment,” he said.

The minister made the remarks at a discussion titled “Cancer Care for All: Integrating Prevention, Precision Treatment, Palliative Care and Policy” during the National Cancer Conference 2026 at the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital (NICRH) in Mohakhali.

He said initiatives were being taken to install radiotherapy machines at cancer hospitals across the country quickly, enabling patients to receive modern treatment at home instead of travelling abroad.

Sakhawat said the necessary manpower and technologists were available to operate the equipment. If required, arrangements would be made to train them over the next three months to ensure the technologies were used effectively, he added.

Criticising past mismanagement in the health sector, the minister said 17 years of rule under the previous government had left the sector far behind.

He warned that negligence would no longer be tolerated and that officials who failed to perform their duties properly could lose their jobs.