District hospitals to get radiotherapy machines within 2 years

Radiotherapy machines will be installed at district-level hospitals within the next two years to make cancer treatment more accessible, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Shakhawat Husain said on Monday.

“The government is working to expand cancer treatment beyond divisional cities and make the services accessible to people at the district level. The health sector is being reorganised to make it more people-oriented and meet public expectations. Work is progressing rapidly towards this goal,” he said.

The minister made the remarks while inaugurating a Medical Physics programme at the auditorium of BRAC University in Dhaka.

BRAC University Vice-Chancellor Prof Said Farhat Anwar chaired the programme, while Prof Dr Golam Abu Zakeria delivered the keynote address.

Praising the country’s physicians, Shakhawat described them as a valuable asset who support people during crises and work tirelessly for public welfare.

“Our doctors love their patients and are ready to make any sacrifice for the well-being of people,” he said. The minister also said medicine supplies had increased, while improvements had been made in hospital cleanliness and the quality of food served to patients, contributing to greater patient satisfaction.

Bangladesh’s healthcare services were not far behind those of other countries, but further improvements were needed in medical equipment and modern technology, he said.

Shakhawat said the health sector had suffered from irregularities and looting in the past, adding that the present government was working to rebuild it.

Necessary reforms and development initiatives would be undertaken gradually to improve healthcare services and meet public expectations, he added.